1st Firsts

Breastfeeding requires approximately 2000 kilojoules extra each day compared with if you were not breastfeeding. This is a lot of extra food (and fluid) to fit in! But don’t worry, no doubt you will notice your appetite and thirst will increase too.

Newborn babies are often very alert and eager to feed right after birth. Your milk won’t have come in, but this special substance you produce until then, referred to as colostrum, is full of infection-fighting antibodies. Breastfeeding also releases oxytocin, a hormone that helps shrink your uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size.

The first few months in particular you will notice huge changes in your baby’s growth and development; there is truth in the cliché ‘they grow so quickly’. In the early stages you may feel like you're feeding around the clock.

Almost all mum’s want to breastfeed. While at least eight out of ten mothers start breastfeeding in hospital, this figure drops down to just under two thirds by 3 months, yet over 95% of women could breastfeed. The most important advice is to seek help as soon as you are aware of a problem and find a good support network early on.

Although breastfeeding is a natural way to nourish your baby, it’s a way of feeding that both you and your baby must learn together. It takes time, patience and practice. Experiment with different ways of holding your baby.

Breastfeeding is nature’s intended way to feed a baby and has a number of health benefits for both mum and baby. In Australia, exclusive breastfeeding is recommended until around 6 months, and continued breastfeeding after the introduction of solid foods until 12 months – and beyond if mum and baby wish.