Breastfeeding support

Breastfeeding provides your baby with the best start in life.

Research shows that many of the benefits are life long.

Feeding your baby breast milk exclusively for the first six months offers the most benefit.

Should you only be able to feed your baby for a short time, any amount is good for your baby. Benefits Breastfeeding reduces the risk of:

• gastro-intestinal infection
• Respiratory infections
• Necrotising enterocolitisurinary tract infections
• Ear infections
• Allergic disease (eczema and wheezing)
• Insulin-dependent diabetes
• Mellitus
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• Childhood leukaemia.
• Breastfed babies may have better:
• Neurological development

More research is needed but breastfeeding may also provide protection for the infant against:

• Multiple sclerosisacute
• Appendicitis
• Tonsillectomy for the mother
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• And for the mother, protection against:
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Women who have breastfed are at lower risk of:
• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Hip fractures and bone density.

Click here for our free antenatal online course which also covers the Postnatal period

Click here to visit the Dorset Healthcare Breastfeeding Support information site

Remember, you can speak to a member of the health visiting team by ringing your local hub in your area if you require further support.

Health visiting service