Best for you: Best for Baby

Welcome to the Breastfeeding information page.

Clearly, when you’re a new mum you will have lots of questions about breastfeeding: they could be about what the benefits are for the baby, the benefits are for you or about how to breastfeed your child. 

We have found out that much information about breastfeeding is hearsay, passed down from the mother’s mother, and even old wives tales.

Here are some of the facts about the benefits of breastfeeding

Babies who are not breastfed are 5 times more likely to be admitted to hospital with gastroenteritis (tummy bugs)!

BENEFITS FOR
Your baby	You
Reduces the risk of obesity and childhood diabetes!	Reduces the risk of breast cancer!
Reduces the risk of stomach, chest, ear or urine infections!	Reduces the risk of ovarian cancer!
Reduces the risk of eczema and asthma!	Reduces the risk of weak bones in later life!
Research suggests that breastfed babies have better brain development!	Breastfeeding can help you to get your figure back faster!
Many mothers say that the extra bond created by breastfeeding produces a special connection between you and your baby.
Remember, breast milk is free, sterile, exactly the right temperature and doesn’t involve carrying extra equipment!

You can download and print this information, including the National & Local helpline numbers and local advice and support group times and contact details listed below and in the Breastfeeding services page, on the Redbridge Breastfeeding leaflet [link]. You are welcome to print this off, fold and keep handy.

The Department of Health guidelines on breastfeeding infants are:

The optimal nutrition for infants is exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months (26 weeks), after which breastfeeding (and/or breastmilk substitutes, if used) should continue beyond the first six months, along with appropriate types and amounts of solid foods.

You can read more about about this in the Start4Life Questions and Answers sheet [link] and at the Start4Life website [external link].

Even if you already have a child, whether you breastfed the last time or not, you may simply like to get hold of the facts about the benefits of breastfeeding,

It also provides links to local breastfeeding advice and support groups.

There are Local advice and support clinics, some of which offer 1:1 advice and support in addition to support groups. Also there are borough level and national organisations, that have information and helplines, that  are available to answer your questions and give support and guidance to breastfeeding mothers (and their families) by offering impartial feeding advice. 

The contact details for and web links to these services  are listed on the local breastfeeding support page [link] in our Services [link] section.

Here are the contact details for, and web links to the Redbridge Children’s Trust and a network of supporting organisations.

They are available to answer your questions and give support and guidance to breastfeeding mothers (and their families) by offering impartial feeding advice.

National & local numbers	Availability	Telephone
National Breastfeeding Helpline	9.30am - 9.30pm	0300 100 0212 (standard local rate)
La Leche League	24 hours	0845 120 2918
National Childbirth Trust Breastfeeding Line	8.00am - 10.00pm	0300 330 0771 (standard local rate)
Redbridge Children’s Trust - Infant Feeding Lead	9.00am - 5.00pm	07771 666 824
Bengali / Sylheti Support	9.30am - 9.30pm	0300 456 2421 (standard local rate)

Go ahead!

Make a call!

Visit a local breastfeeding clinic!

For the benefit of you and your baby