Mother and Child

Should I tell my colleagues that I'm expressing? You don't have to tell your colleagues what you're doing during your breaks if you don't want to. But you should tell your line manager, so that she knows what you are doing. She needs to know that ex...

Should I tell my colleagues that I'm expressing? ...

Is it worth the hassle of expressing at work? It's true that expressing milk can be time-consuming, and it might feel a bit strange doing it at work. But many mums find it's worth the effort. You are still able to give your baby the benefits of bre...

Is it worth the hassle of expressing at work? It'...

How do I store breastmilk? It is best to put breastmilk in plastic feeding bottles with secure tops to seal in freshness. You can also use plastic bags made especially for storing milk, or disposable baby bottle liners. Remember to write the date on...

How do I store breastmilk? It is best to put brea...

What does expressing mean? Expressing is simply a way of taking milk from your breast without your baby suckling. You can do this: - by hand - with a manual pump - with an electric pump Once you've expressed your milk, you can store it in the frid...

What does expressing mean? Expressing is simply a...

What can I do if my milk supply doesn’t slow down? If your breasts are still producing a surplus of milk, it is likely that your baby is not latching on properly . If your baby can't latch on well, she may need to feed more often than those babies ...

What can I do if my milk supply doesn’t slow down?...

What is an overabundant milk supply? An overabundant milk supply is when you have lots of milk which may leak and spray. Your baby may struggle to latch on and come off your breast, coughing and spluttering if she can’t swallow fast enough. She may ...

What is an overabundant milk supply? An overabund...

Do I need extra calories when I am breastfeeding? You don't need to have extra calories as a new mum, because your body is so efficient at producing milk. Be guided by your appetite, and eat when you're hungry. Your body may have laid down fat store...

Do I need extra calories when I am breastfeeding? ...

What should I eat when I'm breastfeeding? You don't need to eat any special or different foods while you're breastfeeding. However, you should try to follow a healthy, balanced diet, which includes: - Starchy foods, such as bread and rice. Choose w...

What should I eat when I'm breastfeeding? You don...

Yes. Your baby may just prefer to snack. He may breastfeed for a minute or two, take a break, and then go back for a bit more. Some babies do feed regularly and predictably, but most don't, especially in the early weeks and months. If your baby is h...

Yes. Your baby may just prefer to snack. He may br...

Stress won't reduce your milk supply. However, if you're feeling very stressed and it's interfering with how often you're feeding your baby, this may temporarily reduce your supply. Having a new baby and trying to learn how to breastfeed can be stre...

Stress won't reduce your milk supply. However, if ...

Should I carry on breastfeeding? Yes, carry on breastfeeding. Your breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby during her first six months and beyond. Breastmilk provides a balance of protein, fats and carbohydrates which are important in helping y...

Should I carry on breastfeeding? Yes, carry on br...

What are toxins? Toxins are poisonous chemicals in the environment. That may sound worrying, but in fact, the toxins we encounter in every-day life are at such low levels they are unlikely to affect our health in the long-term. Toxins exist in our f...

What are toxins? Toxins are poisonous chemicals i...

No. If your baby has only breastmilk, he doesn't need to drink water as well. If you replace nourishing milk with water, he'll miss out on essential nutrients. It may also upset his feeding habits. Breastmilk contains antibodies that help to protect...

No. If your baby has only breastmilk, he doesn't n...

It may be time-consuming for you, but it sounds as though you’re spending just as long breastfeeding as your baby needs. Babies can take as much as an hour to finish a feed or as little as five minutes, provided they’re latched on well. The length ...

It may be time-consuming for you, but it sounds as...

I find it easier to feed on one side. Is this normal? Yes. Many mums find it easier to latch their baby onto one breast than the other. You may have a preferred side for holding your baby when you are breastfeeding. We're all right or left-handed an...

I find it easier to feed on one side. Is this norm...

How can I stop my baby biting? You can try various tactics to stop your baby biting. The approach you take will depend on your baby's age, and his level of understanding. Your baby's newly emerged teeth are sharp. If they graze or fasten onto your ...

How can I stop my baby biting? You can try variou...

Should I stop breastfeeding now my baby has teeth? There’s no reason to. Breastfeeding when your baby has teeth is perfectly natural. Babies’ first teeth usually come through at about six months, but it varies enormously. Some babies remain toothles...

Should I stop breastfeeding now my baby has teeth?...

Many mums worry that their breastmilk isn't enough for their baby. It's one of the most common reasons why mums give up breastfeeding, or give their babies formula milk as well as breastmilk (mixed feeding). It's very unlikely that you won't have en...

Many mums worry that their breastmilk isn't enough...

What can I do to help my baby? A breastfeeding strike can challenge even the most dedicated breastfeeding mum. While you're racking your brains to work out what's gone wrong, you may even feel that your baby doesn't like you. As upsetting as being r...

What can I do to help my baby? A breastfeeding st...

Why do babies sometimes refuse to breastfeed? Reasons why your baby may not want to breastfeed include: - She finds it difficult to latch on properly and can't get a good enough mouthful of breast to feed. She may refuse your breast out of frustrat...

Why do babies sometimes refuse to breastfeed? Rea...

What causes a low milk supply? Your breasts produce milk to match your baby's demands. The more he feeds, the more milk you’ll produce. So if your supply does dip temporarily, there has to be a good reason. It's possible your milk supply might dip ...

What causes a low milk supply? Your breasts produ...