Why is breastfeeding important?
Why is breastfeeding good for your baby?
Breast milk is unique and contains some important components that are vital for a baby’s growth, development and health. These include essential enzymes, hormones and antibodies. Breast milk is also tailor made just for your baby. This means it changes as your baby grows to meet their needs, offering protection as they grow and develop. Your body is fine-tuned to protect you, your immune system is mature and can rapidly produce antibodies in response to viruses or bacteria you may come into contact with. These antibodies can also be quickly passed through your breast milk to also protect your baby whilst his/her own immune system is still developing and more vulnerable. Despite years of research, science still can’t replicate these unique properties found in breast milk.
How does breast milk help your baby?
- breast milk helps protect your baby from illness, for example chest, ear and tummy infections
- breast milk reduces the risk of constipation or tummy upsets
- breastfeeding helps your baby regulate their appetite, reducing the risk of obesity as they grow older
How does breastfeeding help prevent obesity?
Breastfeeding offers a good start to learning appetite control.
- Breast milk contains hormones that program your baby’s regulation of food intake
- Breastfed babies control the amount of milk they drink and stop drinking when they are satisfied.
Breast milk also introduces tiny amounts of flavour. This can influence taste preferences and food choices later on
Why breastfeeding is good for mothers?
Breastfeeding:
- reduces your risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and diabetes
- is protective to your bone health, helping to keep them stronger for longer
- is good for your mental helth. Breastfeeding hormones promote feelings of love and calmness
- helps stimulate responsive mothering behaviours towards your baby. This helps to create a strong bond with your baby and for baby, in turn, to feel safe and secure
- helps your postpartum recovery and burns calories, which may help you return to your pre-pregnancy weight
Why is breastfeeding good for baby?
Why is breastfeeding good for mothers?
Local Breastfeeding Support
download leaflet here
NHS Start 4 Life
Trusted NHS help and advice during pregnancy, birth and parenthood.
Bump
Birmingham and Solihull United Maternity and Newborn Partnership – working to improve your maternity experience
The Breastfeeding Network Birmingham referral pathway
The Breastfeeding Network Birmingham can currently accept referrals online via Microsoft forms, mobile telephone and email.
To submit an online referral using Microsoft forms
Click here for the Birmingham Referral Form or use the QR code below.
We will pick up all online referrals the same day/next working day and a member of the team will contact the family to determine the correct support avenue.
To make a referral via the telephone
- Call/ask the parent/family to call the Birmingham Central number 07704081700
- The phone will ring and then go to answerphone (referral line)
- The answerphone will require the person calling to leave the following details – Name, contact number, post code and baby’s date of birth and any information that will help us offer support.
- If you are a healthcare professional/family hub staff, you will also be asked to leave the following details – your name, your role and a contact number
- The voicemail will be picked up within the following working day
A member of our team will then contact the family to determine the correct support avenue
To submit a referral via email
- Email Birmingham@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk with the following details – Name, contact number, post code and baby’s date of birth and any information that will help us offer support.
- If you are a healthcare professional/family hub staff, please leave the following details – your name, your role and a contact number
- The email will be picked up within the following working day
A member of our team will then contact the family to determine the correct support avenue
Additional details
- Details of the National Breastfeeding Helpline will be given for any calls that are out of hours. The National Breastfeeding Helpline number is 0300 100 0212
- We will also provide our social media handles for families to identify us on Facebook and Instagram. You can find us at Breastfeeding Network Birmingham.
- Healthcare professionals must ensure they have explicit consent from the mother/family before making a referral
What can we support with?
- Breastfeeding peer support
- Antenatal – infant feeding workshop
We cannot accept clinical referrals, including but not limited to – tongue tie diagnosis/snips, failure to thrive, suspected allergies.
Further details about the Breastfeeding Network Birmingham can be found here – Birmingham – The Breastfeeding Network
How to access our social media
Facebook – @breastfeedingnetworkbirmingham
Instagram – @breastfeedingnetworkbirmingham
More Video Resources
What’s in Breast Milk?
Can a baby’s gut bacteria influence childhood health?
Breastfeeding positions and holds
How babies breastfeed and what helps to get off to the best start
Correct Attachment
Early initiation
Is Your Baby Getting Enough Milk?
How does a baby show they are ready for a feed?
Expressing Breast Milk
How to Express
Maximising Breast Milk
Skin to Skin
If you want to know more about the value of skin-to-skin, please click here.
Information provided by the Infant Feeding Team
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