Breastfeeding: adequate feeding, support and follow-up

Breast milk provides nutrients and immune support; it does not replace vaccines or guarantee freedom from illness. WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for six months, then suitable complementary foods alongside continued breastfeeding to two years and beyond. Illness, prematurity, medicines or feeding difficulties require individual planning. If you cannot or do not wish to breastfeed, or supplementation is needed, ask your team for non-judgemental support with safe options.

First assess attachment, feeding frequency, swallowing and growth. The team can plan expressing or additional feeding if needed; do not delay assessment while relying on herbal tea or excess water. Eat varied regular meals, meet fluid needs and check medicine or supplement suitability. This article does not confirm that a particular herb increases milk or that a specialist counselling service is available at Nev.

Pain at every feed, cracks or bleeding should not be dismissed as normal. Alongside positioning and attachment, other causes such as infection may need assessment. A cream or protective product alone does not correct poor attachment. Plan how to maintain feeding and milk supply safely with your team; do not wait for wounds to worsen.

Seek same-day assessment if your baby refuses feeds, is unusually sleepy, passes little urine or becomes more jaundiced. Call 112 for inability to wake, blue colouring or severe breathing difficulty. Maternal fever with a red painful breast, marked deterioration or persistent pain also needs prompt assessment. Nappy counts alone do not rule out these concerns.