Find out more - Infant Feeding Team

It is a good idea to start thinking about how you would like to feed your baby during pregnancy. This will you give you time to consider your options, find out more information and ask any questions you may have, before your baby is born.

Talking to your midwife can be helpful; Croydon Maternity breastfeeding team can be contacted here:

Birth experience can have an impact on  Signs of effective feeding in the early days - La Leche League GB Some top tips to help get things going are:

• Have lots of skin to skin contact with your baby
• Understanding a correct latch Graphic of a baby attaching on the breast | Best Beginnings
• Look for early feeding cues (stirring, mouth opening, turning head, seeking/rooting)
• Expect your baby to want to feed 8-12 times in 24 hours, that’s roughly every 2-3 hours.

In the early days and weeks it is common to question, is my baby getting enough?

Making sure your baby is latched well at the breast can be key in establishing a good breastmilk supply and a happy breastfeeding journey.

Signs your baby is well latched at the breast:

C – Close to mum

H – Baby’s head is free

I – In a straight line

N – Nose to nipple

S – Sustainable and comfortable position

In the early days and weeks it is common to question, is my baby getting enough?

Making sure your baby is latched well at the breast can be key in establishing a good breastmilk supply and a happy breastfeeding journey.

Signs your baby is well latched at the breast:

C – Close to mum

H – Baby’s head is free

I – In a straight line

N – Nose to nipple

S – Sustainable and comfortable position

https://breastfeeding.support/a-good-start-to-breastfeeding/

Sometimes there can be breastfeeding challenges and many parents find questions come up as their baby grows and develops. Leaning how to hand express can be a very useful skill to have, especially if needing to resolve engorgement or mastitis. 

Around the time your baby is 6 months old, they may be ready to begin trying solid foods. Milk will still be your baby’s main source of nutrition as they transfer to a solid food diet. Signs that your baby is ready for solid foods;

• Sit up unaided and hold their head steady
• Co-ordinate their eyes hands and mouth, so they can pick up the food and putt in their mouth themselves.
• Swallow foods, babies who are not ready, will push the food back out of their mouth.

For further information on suitable foods to offer your baby, more information can be found here

It is quite normal to breastfeed babies well into their second year, and this can vary greatly depending on both the mothers and baby’s wishes. You may question how long should my baby be breastfed? Or you may have questions about how to stop breastfeeding?

Sometimes there may be unique circumstances to consider when breastfeeding your baby. If you have more than one baby, or your baby needs to spend time in special care

If you have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding and would like to speak with a member of the team, you can telephone 020 8714 2985, lines are monitored Monday-Friday 09.30-16.30 excluding bank holidays. Outside of these hours, you can leave a voice message.

Alternatively, you can email ch-tr.breastfeedingteam@nhs.net

If you need breastfeeding support outside of normal office hours, you can call:

National Breastfeeding Helpline 0300 100 0212 lines are open 09.30-21.30 every day of the year

NCT feeding support line 0300 330 0700 lines are open 08.00-midnight every day of the year