Informed is Best

“How is it that in many societies, 100% of poor, undernourished women all breastfeed easily, while in others, groups of privileged, well-nourished women believe they cannot?” 

The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts are Bad for Business. Gabrielle Palmer. 2015. 

Breastfeeding in itself is not hard… it’s juggling all the other things/expectations/pressures that mothers are expected to deal with whilst caring for a newborn that can significantly affect breastfeeding… plus just being a parent is exhausting no matter how you choose to feed your child. If mothers were given the space, support, and knowledge to focus on nourishing their infants, then perhaps there would be less negative belief by new/expectant mothers in Western society.

Try to stop thinking about breastfeeding as a way of getting milk into a baby. Think of it as a way of calming, comforting, and regulating them, and the milk part will sort itself 💗

You and your baby are built for this… trust in your body, trust in their instincts, and do a bit of research beforehand. 

Important Note: When looking online for advice, try to avoid generic parenting groups if you are looking for specific advice, i.e., if you have a breastfeeding question ask it in a well-moderated breastfeeding group to avoid unintentional bias and misinformation. Breastfeeding problems need breastfeeding solutions! 😉

Accredited Online Resources:

1. The Breastfeeding Network
2. La Leche League GB
3. Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (abm)
4. Lactation Consultants of Great Britain (Find an IBCLC)
5. La Leche League GB - Safer Sleep & the Breastfed Baby
6. The Breastfeeding Network: Drugs in Breastmilk factsheets
7. UNICEF Breastfeeding Resources
8. Families And Babies – F.A.B
9. UNICEF - Responsive Feeding Info Sheethttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qApa6i3XFMo
10. UNICEF - Building a Happy Baby: A Guide for Parents
11. First Steps Nutrition Trust

Videos:

1. Global Health Media - Attaching Your Baby at the Breast
2. Global Health Media - Breastfeeding positions / positioning
3. Global Health Media Project - Worried there is not enough milk?
4. abm: Beyond Bottles - Alternative ways to feed a baby without bottles
5. Gentle Sleep Webinar, by Sarah Ockwell-smith

Facebook Groups

1. La Leche League - Search for LLLI.Breastfeeding.Support or find your local online group.
2. Breastfeeding Support and Information UK  
3. Breastfeeding and Lactation Support UK
4. Breastfeeding Younger Babies and Beyond
5. Breastfeeding Older Babies and Beyond
6. Can I Breastfeed In It? UK

Facebook Pages

1. touched out mama – Informed is Best
2. Lucy Webber Feeding Support – IBCLC
3. Professor Amy Brown - Breastfeeding Uncovered
4. Sarah Ockwell-Smith

Useful Online Articles/Posts:

1. Low Milk Supply 101 - abm
2. La Leche League GB - Five ways to help when breastfeeding doesn’t go as expected 
3. What's happened to my 3-week-old? 
4. Struggling with your 12-week-old? 
5. The Breastfeeding Network: Reflux and Breastfeeding
6. Why will my baby take a bottle after a breastfeed? 
7. Breastfeeding and returning to work - Public Health Agency (PDF)

Interesting Online Reads:

1. Breastfeeding & Normal Baby Behaviours in an Abnormal Society 
2. Breastfeeding in the Land of Genghis Khan
3. Why African Babies Don't Cry
4. Breastfeeding: Comfort versus Nutrition
5. Breastfeeding and Lactation Support UK: Molly-Mae Article

Books:

1. Breastfeeding and the Fourth Trimester: A Supportive, Expert Guide to the First Three Month, by Lucy Webber.
2. The Positive Breastfeeding Book: Everything you need to feed your baby with confidence, by Amy Brown.
3. The Politics of Breastfeeding: Why Breastfeeding is Bad for Business, by Gabrielle Palmer.
4. Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter (Pinter & Martin Why it Matters, by Amy Brown.
5. The Gentle Sleep Book: Gentle, No-Tears, Sleep Solutions for Parents of Newborns to Five-Year-Olds, by Sarah Ockwell-Smith.
6. Safe Infant Sleep: Expert Answers to Your Cosleeping Questions, by  James J McKenna.

Telephone:

1. National Breastfeeding Helpline: 0300 100 0212
2. La Leche League: 0345 120 2918
3. NCT Support Line: 0300 330 0700
4. Association of Breastfeeding Mothers helpline: 0300 330 5453