Feeding your baby

Feeding your baby

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We want to provide you with information about your options and support you with your feeding choice.

Skin to skin contact and keeping your baby close are important ways to nurture brain development.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for two years and beyond and this has been supported by many robust research studies. Breastmilk is just what nature intended for you and your baby but it is so much more than food and nutrition.

Breastfeeding is a normal and natural way to feed, however, we understand that some mums find breastfeeding difficult and need extra support to continue their feeding journey.

We are committed to helping you achieve your own target by providing information, resources and support (both, in the hospital and in the community).

If you are not planning on breastfeeding your baby, you can still enjoy early skin to skin contact and we encourage you to give their first feed during this time to help get bonding off to a good start.

Please go through the links below to find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding, videos that will show you how to breastfeed and hand express milk for your baby, resources and details of local support and helplines.

Useful resources

Visit the NHS website for more information on how to breastfeed, how to bottle feed and advice.

In this video, a breastfeeding counsellor helps a mother with her positioning and attachment whilst breastfeeding.

In this video, a breastfeeding counsellor helps a mother with her positioning and attachment whilst breastfeeding.

First Steps Nutrition Trust is an independent public health nutrition charity that supports good nutrition from preconception to five years.

Their website contains resources that are put together by nutrition experts and are regularly updated.

Breastfeed Together is a breastfeeding peer support service run by a team of volunteers that are based across the Bradford and Keighley areas. They provide parent-to-parent support with everyday, normal, breastfeeding situations, whatever the age of your baby.

They understand that everyone’s breastfeeding journey is unique and would like to support you whether you are exclusively breastfeeding, mixed feeding, expressing or thinking about giving some breastmilk.

Whatever your feeding goals are, they are here to listen and provide evidenced-based information, to enable you to make the decisions that are right for you.

Visit the Breastfeed Together website to find out more or contact them via:

Email: breastfeedtogether@bdct.nhs.uk

Facebook: @BreastfeedTogetherBDCFT

For independent breastfeeding support and information, visit https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/.

Local

More information may be found at https://www.bdct.nhs.uk/breastfeeding-bradford/.

National

  • National Breastfeeding Helpline – 0300 100 0212
  • La Leche League – 0845 120 2918
  • National Childbirth Trust- 0300 330 0700
  • Association of Breastfeeding Mothers- 0300 330 5453
  • The Breastfeeding Network- 0300 100 0210

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