Let's Talk Infant Feeding

When I started a breastfeeding course to train as an infant feeding peer support volunteer, the trainers continue to mention a quote from Maya Angelou who said, 'Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.' Why isn't information about the benefits of breastfeeding more well known? After reading, 'The Politics of Breastfeeding: when breasts are bad for business' by Gabrielle Palmer it is clear why.

The bottom line is that breastfeeding is the most important thing you can do for your baby. 'Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure child health and survival' (World Health Organistation, 2024). The Lansett journal of breastfeeding (2016) gives a metanalysis of the benefits of breastfeeding whether rich or poor and noted the increases of intelligence for those who were breastfed and supported the evidence that exclusive breastfeeding protects against child infections. Why wouldn't society support women to breastfeed and get back to work if the benefits were so advantageous?  

Breastfeeding doesn’t just impact positively on the baby, the benefits for the mother are far-reaching. After reading about the impact on stress levels of breastfeeding on the mother, I decided whilst in the middle of breastfeeding my daughter, to look at the heart rate on my Fitbit and it was below my resting heart rate. 

The impact on health and wellbeing for formula fed babies costs the economy so much money and puts a strain on a service that is already at capacity. Evidence says that the health implications of formula fed babies could be avoided if more women breastfed their babies. First Steps Nutrition Trust (firststepsnutritiontrust.org) gives information about formula and the difference between formula and breastmilk. It is incomparable despite what the formula adverts suggest. As someone who has explored research into the positive effects of breastfeeding on women, babies, families and society as a whole, why do I find it so difficult to convince even members of my family that breastfeeding is best.  

The saying 'breast is best' is not well received as it makes women who use formula feel guilty for their choices. But the point is that formula shouldn't have to be a choice, it should be the last resort for a very limited number of women for reasons beyond their control. ‘Fed is best’ is now said, which is because in a few tragic cases, mothers have gone against clinical advice when their baby hasn’t breastfed well and needed formula for weight gain. If this is the case, you do the best with the tools you're given. Babies need love and closeness and if breastfeeding isn't possible, give the baby love in other ways like using skin-to-skin (holding baby against bare skin with the baby in just a nappy and usually covered with a blanket). 

If women have spent around nine months being supported to carry a baby, why wouldn't they be supported to breastfeed for the two years recommended by The World Health Organisation? It baffles me how many looks I get from people when they find out I am still breastfeeding my 24-month-old even though this is the global standard. The NHS website states that breastfeeding is important for babies for however long the mother is able to but the impacts of health benefits last longer and are greater the longer the mother breastfeeds her baby (NHS, 2023). 

 A few things a pregnant woman can do for the best outcomes for breastfeeding:  

• Read about the benefits of breastfeeding - 'Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.' 

• Go to breastfeeding support groups to:  

  - get the right support and find out how to learn the skills needed to breastfeed (it doesn't come naturally for a lot of women, including me). 

  - talk to other mothers who are going through a similar experience. 

  - find somewhere you feel safe and confident to breastfeed where no one will judge. 

• Have as much time at home with your baby, with lots of skin-to-skin time and enjoy the cuddles.  

• Ask anyone who wants to visit to wait until you are ready while you figure out breastfeeding so you can walk around topless and ready to breastfeed. Having my first baby in lockdown meant that I was very strict with visitors to the house when I had my second baby because I understood the importance of the first couple of weeks. 

• You only need the mother's breasts – if you buy bottles and formula, you are more likely to give into it. Like having chocolate in the house and not being able to resists it just because it’s there. 

• Read about the benefits of breastfeeding and feel empowered that you are able to do such an amazing thing for your baby.  

• Ask your employer about how they are going to support you breastfeeding and going back to work. There are laws around this now. 

• Get your partner, other member of your family or friends to bring food and supplies (even feed you if your baby needs breastfeeding as you sit down for food, which is always the case!)

• Talk to your partner about what they can do to help with the baby. Women often say how their partner feels left out at the beginning when the baby is constantly breastfeeding but having a conversation about what is best for the baby helps them to understand. There are so many other ways they can support the baby.  

• Invest in some breastfeeding bras and clothes that make it accessible to get your breast out. You can use a muslin to cover your breasts if you feel you need to.  

• Find cafes around your area that support breastfeeding mothers so that you can get out of the house and still be comfortable breastfeeding. In my local area they have stickers in the window. Or you can find out where supports the ‘breastfeeding welcome here’ scheme.

• If you have older children who aren’t yet at school, take them to playgroups so that they can be happy playing and you can breastfeed without the guilt of not being able to play with them.  

• Join the 1977 Nestlé boycott – read about it if you don’t already know. 

• Give yourself a break - breastfeeding and looking after a baby is hard work! When the baby is old enough, do something you enjoy while someone else looks after them.