Breastfeeding, while natural, is still a learned skill for both mother and baby. The early days are a learning period and most women, given time and support, can and do breastfeed.

Breast milk is the perfect food - fresh, clean and safe at just the right temperature. It has a complete balance of nutrients and antibodies to protect babies and to help them develop. It contains fatty acids important in brain development and is the only food or drink a baby needs for the first six months of life.

Research has shown infants eyesight, speech and jaw development are enhanced by breastfeeding. Breastfeeding may lower the risk of babies developing juvenile diabetes in the future and may reduce the risk of heart disease.  

Many mothers find breastfeeding very convenient - their babies can have breast milk anywhere, any time and it saves the family money. Breastfeeding also helps your body to return to its pre-pregnant state more quickly and delays the return of menstruation in most women. On an environmental scale, breastfeeding saves food resources, fuel and energy as no packaging is required, and no chemicals are needed for preparation. 

The great majority of mothers can produce all the milk their baby needs. The more milk that is taken, the more milk is made. Breastfeeding hinges on a very simple principle of  “Supply=Demand” (the size of a woman's breast has no bearing on the amount of milk she can produce).  

A baby's sucking at the breast also releases hormones that cause cells within the breast to contract and “eject” the milk from the nipple, making most of the milk within the breast available to the baby. This is called the “let down reflex”. Correct positioning and attachment is vital to enable a baby to drain the breast effectively and gain all the milk he needs. It is also the key to avoiding many common hitches in breastfeeding. Sore and cracked nipples, blockages and mastitis can be very distressing and may lead a mother to wonder whether it's all worth the effort. Fortunately, problems can usually be solved with help and the right information. 

In our modern societies women do not often see other women breastfeeding, nor do they necessarily have experienced relatives or friends to learn from. Many mothers experience uncertainty and can feel overwhelmed by things in the early weeks, particularly if breastfeeding isn¹t as they expected. Some mothers feel isolated, particularly after leaving the workplace to have a baby. This is where the Australian Breastfeeding Association can help.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association (formerly the Nursing Mothers¹ Association of Australia) provides a wide range of literature on breastfeeding - from breast and nipple care and expressing and storage of milk to breastfeeding triplets. This information, combined with a breastfeeding helpline, staffed by trained, voluntary breastfeeding counsellors, seven days a week, can help mothers with any queries or problems they may have. 

Local groups, headed by breastfeeding counsellors, run regular meetings on a variety of breastfeeding topics, to provide a support network for mothers. Meetings are friendly and informal. Mothers are invited to bring their babies and children for a coffee and a chat, either with a counsellor or to share experiences with other mums. 

To inquire about meetings in your area phone the Breastfeeding Helpline on 9340 1200 (WA). 

Cathy Ross,
Australian Breastfeeding Association 

For contact numbers in other states visit the website  http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au
International visitors can obtain advice from the Le Leche League International website at http://www.lalecheleague.org