Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding 101

Why breast milk?

Perfect food

Breastfeeding is the natural, biological way of providing babies with nutrients required for healthy growth and development.

Better for mum, better for baby

Breastfeeding helps with mother and baby emotional attachment and is better for both short and long term health.

Environmentally friendly

Breast milk has no waste products, so it is better for the environment.

Risks of not breastfeeding

For mothers

Higher risk of:

• ovarian cancer
• breast cancer
• type 2 diabetes.

More expensive:

• cost of formula
• cost of healthcare for a sick baby.

For babies

Higher risk of:

• gastrointestinal infections
• chest infections
• ear infections
• childhood leukaemia
• SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)
• some long term diseases, for example diabetes
• allergies and milk intolerances.

For the community

• higher healthcare costs
• using up natural resources
• higher waste products in the environment.

Babies know how to breastfeed

Babies know when they are hungry and thirsty. Babies know when the milk comes in. Babies know how to breastfeed.

Allowing babies to do what they were born to do, will make for a much smoother transition into this new world; for mother and baby.

More information:

• Queensland Clinical Guidelines parent information – Breastfeeding your baby
• Breastfeeding information in other languages:
  • Breastfeeding and postnatal care, Victorian Government
  • Breastfeeding your baby, Royal Women's Hospital, Victoria
  • Breastfeeding resources in other languages, Australian Breastfeeding Association
• Global Health Media – Breastfeeding videos in other languages
• Queensland Health – Breastfeeding information for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people
  • Breastfeeding: strong mums, strong babies
  • Breastfeeding: good for Baby, good for Mum

What are the recommendations?

The World Health Organization and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommend you breastfeed your baby exclusively for the first six months. Breast milk is all the food and drink that a baby needs.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines (NHMRC) recommends:

• breastfeeding as the best method of feeding full-term babies
• exclusive breastfeeding for around six months of life
• breastfeeding continues beyond six months while appropriate solid foods are introduced
• along with solids, women are advised to continue breastfeeding until 12 months of age, for as long as the mother and child decide.

Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative

The Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was developed by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF in 1991. It is a worldwide program aiming to create a healthcare environment that supports mothers and babies to have the best start in life.

Queensland Health is proud to support the BFHI. We promote breastfeeding as the optimal way to feed your baby; however we also respect how you choose to feed your baby.

In this guide:

1. Breastfeeding 101
2. In pregnancy – planning for breastfeeding
3. Breastfeeding – the first few days
4. Signs of hunger
5. Breastfeeding – the early weeks
6. Positioning and attachment
7. Signs of an effective attachment
8. Breastfeeding positions
9. Common breastfeeding questions and concerns
10. Common breastfeeding issues
11. Breastfeeding in the first year
12. Important points about breastfeeding

Print entire guide

• Previous ( https://www.qld.gov.au/health/children/pregnancy/antenatal-information/breastfeeding-101 )
• Next ( https://www.qld.gov.au/health/children/pregnancy/antenatal-information/breastfeeding-101/in-pregnancy-planning-for-breastfeeding )