Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999

You're viewing the site locally in: Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland

Brilliant reasons to breastfeed for mums and babies

Breastfeeding is beneficial to you and your baby. Any amount of breast feeding is positive and has long-term health benefits, the longer you are able to breast feed your baby for, the greater the benefits are.

For baby:

Breast milk is tailor made for your baby; your milk adapts to your baby’s needs. Did you know that if your baby is exposed to any germs in the environment, your body will make antibodies that may pass on through your breast milk?

Breast milk contains antibodies, helping to protect your baby from a range of infections including tummy bugs, ear and chest infections. It also contains constituents that helps build your baby’s microbiome, healthy gut.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of:

Breastfeeding can also support the bond between your baby and you.

Mother breastfeeding her baby

And it’s brilliant for mums

There are lots of benefits to breastfeeding for mums too, including:

It’s free

Breast feeding is free and environmentally friendly. There are no manufacturing or distribution costs and there is no wasteful packaging either.

It’s ready and available whenever your baby needs it

There is no need to worry about taking bottles and formula with you wherever you go.

Breastfeeding is great for bonding

It helps to build a strong physical and emotional bond between mum and baby.

It burns calories

It helps you to lose your pregnancy weight as the fat stores are used to make your milk.

Breastfeeding has health benefits for you

It helps to lower your risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer as well as reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis.

If you experience any breast feeding issues or are struggling to establish feeding, you can talk to your midwife, health visitor or local peer support groups. They can give you useful tips and advice and direct you to your local breastfeeding group where you can meet other breastfeeding mums and build your confidence too.

Useful links

National breastfeeding helpline

ChatHealth Logo

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs a confidential secure text messaging service for parents of children aged 0-19 years called Chat Health. The service operates Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, excluding bank holidays. All texts will be responded to by a public health nurse (health visitor/school nurse) within 24 hours. Outside of the service working hours, you’ll receive a message back to inform you that your text will be responded to once the line reopens.

Healthy Together Logo

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust runs the Healthy Together Helpline for parents and carers in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. The Helpline’s qualified health and administrative professionals offer easy to access, safe and free advice, support and signposting. Calls are answered from 9am – 4.30pm on weekdays, excluding bank holidays. Calls are charged at the same rate as calling a standard landline number.

Should you require urgent health advice in the meantime, please contact your GP, visit an NHS walk-in centre or call NHS 111. For emergencies, dial 999 or visit A&E.

Baby

Support services for baby

Find services for you in Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland

I'd just like to see all baby services.

Page last reviewed: 27-08-2024

Next review due: 27-08-2027