Breast or bottle?

Get help and advice of feeding methods for your baby so you can make the right choice

To many mothers and babies, breastfeeding comes naturally, and is the easiest and healthiest way to feed their baby. But lots of new mums struggle to get off to a good start and breastfeeding can take weeks to establish.

Difficult start

Common early difficulties are baby not attaching to the breast correctly, sore nipples and concern over milk supply.

Most problems can be overcome with the right help help-don't just put up with painful breastfeeding! Sticking with it should pay off, but ask for help sooner rather than later. Help with your technique should make all the difference.

Find a technique

Get your technique right and the rest normally follows! Babies need to take a big mouthful of breast when feeding-this feels comfortable for mum and makes feeding more efficient.

Breastfeeding works on 'supply and demand'. Each time you feed your baby, your body gets the message to make more milk for the next feed. In the early days and weeks, newborns feed every few hours to build up a good supply of milk. If you feel your supply may be low, offering your baby more frequent feeds for a few days should help to boost it.

Breast is best

Why is breastfeeding a great choice for both mum and baby? It's the perfect food for your baby-easy to digest, causing less wind and colic, fewer colds, fewer ear & chest infections, reduced risk of obesity and diabetes both in childhood and throughout life and less risk of heart disease in later life.

There are benefits for mum too - breastfeeding helps you get back in shape after having your baby, it's convenient, free, hygienic and a wonderful thing to experience as you get to know your new baby. There is also protection from some forms of cancer - breast, uterine and ovarian.

It's recommended that exclusive breastfeeding for your baby's first six months helps give them the healthiest start in life and helps them develop a strong immune system for life.

Get advice

Find out before your baby arrives who you can ask for help if breastfeeding is problematic. The midwives in hospital, community midwives and your GP/ Health Visitor are all there to help.

It's your choice

Many mothers choose not to breastfeed, or give up after an unhappy start. It's no-one else's decision but yours how you choose to feed your baby.

Many mums are upset by the negative comments of others when they may be struggling to come to terms with the disappointment of no longer breastfeeding.

If breastfeeding is not for you, move to bottles and get on with enjoying your early months with your baby - feeding is just one aspect of bringing up a healthy, happy child.

By Vicki Scott RM of babyconfidence.co.uk