Breastfeeding the First Year
Your baby has arrived, and you have decided to breastfeed – let the journey begin! Whether this is your first baby or you’ve been on this journey before, there are always joys and challenges when breastfeeding the first year. Deciding to breastfeed means you clearly see the value of breastmilk for your growing baby. However, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have questions!
In this section, you will find articles that explore a range of topics related to breastfeeding the first year. Breastfeeding in Public (What to Wear and How to Manage it) is always a hot topic, especially for new mothers still finding their way and their confidence in breastfeeding. If you wonder whether your supply is enough for your baby, you may find the article Have You Got Enough Breastmilk useful.
Whether you have consciously chosen to co-sleep with your baby or enjoy dozing beside your baby as you feed and afterwards, the article Co-sleeping and Breastfeeding could be both helpful and reassuring. You may also have heard that breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of Cot Death and want to explore this more. The articles in this section are both insightful and relateable and acknowledge the special time that is breastfeeding the first year.
Do you have a story about your experience of breastfeeding the first year that you would like to share? We are always looking for new content, and nothing supports a breastfeeding mother more than the words of someone who has been there (or is there). If you have a story to share or would like to suggest a topic you’d like to read more about, please email Pregnancy Birth and Beyond.
Breastfeeding the First Year Articles
Breastfeeding in Public (What to Wear and How to Manage it)
When you and your newborn are still learning, breastfeeding in public might seem tricky. Where can you sit? What clothes are most comfortable? Will your boobs be on display? Once you've figured out these logistics, having breastmilk on tap makes feeding bub a breeze, wherever you are. Your baby's right to be fed The first thing to remember is that babies can be breastfed anywhere you choose. In Australian, the law says it's illegal to discriminate against a woman
Co-sleeping and Breastfeeding
Historically, women all over the world have effectively combined co-sleeping and breastfeeding for thousands of years. This is in order to meet the psychological, physical and social needs of their infant. Breastfeeding infants feed regularly throughout the day and night time during the early months of life. Mothers who are breastfeeding their infants need to be in close proximity to their infants. This allows them to read their infant's cues and meet their needs for nutrition, comfort and safety.
Have you got enough Breast Milk?
When you’re breastfeeding it can be very difficult to tell how much your baby is drinking. And as a new mum it’s only natural to worry about if your baby is getting enough breast milk. So I thought it would be helpful to look at some of the issues that make many mums think they don’t have enough milk and explain what might really be going on. Reduced Breast Size A few weeks into breastfeeding and again after 5-6
Breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of Cot Death
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID) today announces its latest advice that breastfeeding your baby can reduce the risk of cot death. The advice, released to launch FSID’s cot death awareness drive Save a Baby Month which runs from 1-31 May, is based on research which showed that babies who were at least partly breastfed were one-third less likely to die as a cot death than babies who were never breastfed. FSID Director, Joyce Epstein, says: