Breastfeeding frequently asked questions

When do I need to decide how to feed my baby?

Healthcare professionals recommend that you wait until your baby is born before making a decision on how to feed. Many women have shared that their feelings about feeding changed once their baby arrived.

What support is available for first time mothers to support feeding?

Our maternity staff are trained to support you with feeding your baby, however you choose to feed. Additional specialist breastfeeding supporters are also available to help if you need further support. Support is also available in the community.

Does University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) supply formula milk if I need it?

If you would like to breastfeed, even if only at the beginning, there is no need to bring formula milk into hospital. Staff will support you to start your breastfeeding journey and help you to express your own milk if baby needs it.

If formula is required for medical reasons while your baby is learning to breastfeed, the hospital will provide what you need. Staff will discuss the reasons for any formula given for medical reasons and will provide support to build and protect your breast milk supply.

If you chose to formula feed your baby from birth, you will need to bring in a starter pack of milk, which you can buy from most supermarkets or chemists. Starter packs usually contain six ready-made bottles and six teats. UHB will not provide this for you. It is important that your baby is offered "first milks" for the first 12 months when choosing to formula feed.

If you chose to formula feed your baby, please ask your midwife or other healthcare professionals about baby-led bottle feeding. We would also encourage you to plan to feed your baby in a skin-to-skin position as much as possible.

What are the health benefits of breastfeeding?

Benefits for the baby include:

• reduction in allergic conditions, such as eczema and asthma
• lower risk of diabetes
• reduced risk of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis
• reduced likelihood of obesity
• protection against ear infections
• protection against chest infections and wheezing
• increased cognitive development
• better development of the mouth and teeth

Breast milk is all a baby needs until around 6 months of age, when solid food can then also be offered.

Benefits for the mother include:

• lower risk of ovarian cancer
• lower risk of breast cancer
• stronger bones in later life

Why should I consider breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is more than just food for your baby; it helps you bond with your baby and respond to their needs for comfort, love and nutrition while also supporting your baby’s brain development. This is a continuation of the bond you and your baby have already developed throughout your pregnancy.

Breast milk provides the best possible nutrition as it is human milk, not based on cow’s milk like formula. It provides all the nutrients a baby needs at each stage and can be readily absorbed, promoting optimal growth and development.

How soon can I wean my child off?

The longer you breastfeed, or your baby has breast milk, the greater the health benefits are likely to be for you both. The World Health Organisation recommends complete breast milk for the first six months, then continued breastfeeding as solid food while solid food is introduced, and until around 2 years of age.

How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

Look for swallowing as your baby feeds and check your baby’s nappies for urine and faeces (wee and poo). The contents of your baby’s nappies will change during the first week. The changes will help you know if feeding is going well.

Your midwife or health visitor will also monitor your baby’s weight.

Please speak to your midwife if you have any questions or concerns. 

How often is my baby likely to feed?

It is normal for babies to feed around 8 to 10 times per 24 hours. Remember that babies feed for comfort as well as milk, and at times you might want your baby to feed for your convenience or because your breasts feel full. You can’t over feed your breastfed baby or spoil your baby with love and cuddles. Breastfeeding is a two-way process.

I've heard about hand expressing during pregnancy. What does this mean?

Hand expressing means squeezing your breast to produce milk.

It can be helpful to start practicing hand expressing over the last part of your pregnancy, from approximately 37 weeks. You can ask your midwife to show you how to do it.

You may start to see some colostrum. This is nothing to worry about as you will keep producing this, and you will not run out before your baby is born.

What’s the best way to get started with breastfeeding?

It’s recommended that all babies are cuddled "skin-to-skin" after birth in order to help them adjust to the outside world. Skin-to-skin contact is also the best way to begin your breastfeeding journey.

Babies are programmed to find their way to the breast, latch on and feed. Skin-to-skin contact makes this easier.

The hand expressing you started before the birth comes in useful if, for any reason, your baby is a bit sleepy and you need to give baby your hand-expressed colostrum. Our team can help you with this.

What is colostrum?

Colostrum is the first milk that’s in your breasts from around 20 weeks of pregnancy. It’s a sticky, yellowish, concentrated fluid which is packed full of protective factors and will kick start your baby’s immune system.

Colostrum is all your baby needs in the first few days. Whilst all mothers produce colostrum, not all mothers will see it. Please do not worry, this does not relate to the amount of milk you will make for your baby. Colostrum changes to more "mature" milk a few days after the birth.