Feeding your baby
It is our policy to encourage mothers to exclusively breastfeed
their babies from birth up to at least 6 months of age. From this
age, we encourage mothers to continue breastfeeding alongside solid
food for as long as they wish.
There is now considerable evidence suggesting that breastfeeding
is the healthiest way to feed your baby, offering benefits for both
baby and mother.
However, how you choose to feed your baby will come down to what
works best for both of you. Staff at NHS City and Hackney,
including midwives, GPs and health visitors, will support and help
parents, whatever the chosen method of infant feeding.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a great way to boost your baby's development
and protect against infections. Breast milk contains protective
antibodies, so breastfed babies get fewer ear, chest and urine
infections, less diarrhoea and fewer tummy upsets.
Breast milk is easily digested, and contains growth factors and
hormones that help your baby's development.
If you have a family history of allergies, such as hayfever,
eczema or asthma, breastfeeding can help to cut the risk of your
baby developing them.
Breast milk is also free and on tap when your baby needs it, it
is always the right temperature and you don't have to make up
feeds, sterilise bottles or take lots of equipment with you when
you go out.
If you are unable to breastfeed your baby all the time, it is
possible to express breast milk using a special breast pump, and to
feed this to your baby later using a sterilised bottle.
There are some wins in it for you too in that breastfeeding can
help you to lose weight gained during pregnancy, because it uses up
to 500 calories a day – bonus! Breastfeeding can also help your
womb shrink back to normal size after giving birth and offers some
protection against pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer and
osteoporosis (weak bones).
'I wanted the best for my baby. It wasn't easy to
start with, but I'm so pleased I kept trying as breastfeeding was
good for both of us.'
Nicola, 19, mum to one-year-old Darnel
Breastfeeding
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Breastfeeding Poster 239
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Breastfeeding
Policy 233Kb