Breastfeeding is a great way to provide your baby with the nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. Most mothers are able to breastfeed if they have accurate information and support.
If you’re thinking about breastfeeding before your baby is born, you can find local information and speak to someone who has breastfed for support and advice.
However you decide to feed, breast or bottle, responsive feeding is the best and most pleasurable way for you and your baby to feed. Responsive feeding means offering a feed when your baby shows signs of hunger or when your baby is distressed, fractious, or appears lonely. This will help build your relationship and also help you to get to know each other. Every breastfeed that you can give your baby has benefits. Just take it one day at a time.
Breastfeed Together
Having someone to provide a listening ear and some practical tips to help you along your breastfeeding journey can be really helpful.
Breastfeed Together groups are free sessions where you can chat with infant feeding practitioners and volunteer peer supporters in a relaxed, informal, community setting.
Whatever your feeding goals are, staff and volunteers are able to listen and provide evidence-based information, to help you make decisions that are right for you. There is no formal structure or agenda, just a friendly space to chat and share experiences and tips.
You might also see friendly peer supporters in your Parent Education classes or on the postnatal ward in hospital.
Visit the Breastfeed Together webpage to find out more, or email breastfeedtogether@bdct.nhs.uk or find them on social media @breastfeedtogetherBDCFT
There are also other websites and resources below:
Start for Life
Lots of helpful information and advice on breastfeeding
UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative
The baby friendly initiative. Transforming healthcare for babies, their mothers and families in the UK
First steps Nutrition
First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity that provides information and resources to support eating well from pre-conception to five years.
Better Lives, Healthy Futures
Helping to give families across Bradford the healthiest possible start to life