All babies need to be fed little and often in the early days. A baby needs to feed frequently, and may or may not offer feeding cues. Trying to visualise numbers can be a distraction, and we have taken the decision to stop using our milk volume posters because we were concerned they might lead … [Read more...] about How much milk does a newborn need at each breastfeed?
For health professionals
Breastfeeding and Postnatal Depression
In 2014 the journal Maternal and Child Health published a study looking at breastfeeding and maternal depression. It found that mothers who planned to breastfeed and went on to do so were around 50% less likely to become depressed than mothers who had planned to, and did not, breastfeed1. This … [Read more...] about Breastfeeding and Postnatal Depression
When Breastfeeding Ends Suddenly
Usually it’s possible to end breastfeeding gradually. However, a mother may find herself in a situation where she needs to stop breastfeeding straight away, for example to start treatment for a serious medical condition such as cancer, or, sadly, if her baby has died. Sudden weaning Stopping … [Read more...] about When Breastfeeding Ends Suddenly
Barriers to breastfeeding for younger mothers
Lynsey Hansford describes her own experience as a younger mum and looks at some of the barriers to breasfeeding they face. You may have heard or observed that younger mums are less likely to breastfeed than older mums. The 2010 UK Infant Feeding Survey found that women aged 30 or above were the … [Read more...] about Barriers to breastfeeding for younger mothers
What’s The Big Deal With Skin-To-Skin?
Lynsey Hansford looks at some of the amazing benefits of skin-to-skin in the hours and days after birth. Skin-to-skin has become a birth plan buzzword. The term has penetrated 'birthspeak' and, in my view, is at risk of being treated as a trend that is only paid lip service in the immediate … [Read more...] about What’s The Big Deal With Skin-To-Skin?