I want to breastfeed my baby

Breastfeeding is feeding your newborn with milk directly from your breasts and not from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. Most mothers can nourish their infant (or infants in the case of twins) by breastfeeding for the first six months or more, without the supplement of infant formula milk or solid food. 

Breastfeeding is encouraged where possible. Human breast milk is usually the best source of nourishment for infants, helps prevent disease, is inexpensive, is convenient and helps with mother-baby bonding.

What can be done?

Put your baby to your breast as soon as possible after your delivery. The midwife will help you do this. If you have had a Caesarean section the midwife will help you do this as soon as you are in your postnatal room or while in Recovery ward if a "baby friendly" Caesarean section at the San Hospital. As well as midwife support, there are expert lactation consultants in both hospitals available to assist you. When you go home help is only a phone call to the hospital away!

Sometimes nipple shields are needed if you have flat nipples or develop sensitive cracked nipples.

Sometimes breast feeding doesn't work out because of the shape of your nipples, the shape of the baby's mouth, poor milk production inspite of stimulants, etc. Don't worry! Your baby will be ok if artificial milk is used.

If you have had breast surgery such as breast implants you can usually still breast feed as the implants are usually places behind the breast tissue. Breast reduction surgery on the other hand often damages the breast ducts and so women who have has breast reduction surgery usually can't breast feed.

The most common breast feeding challenges and what can be done to help are covered in Breast Feeding Problems.