Breastfeeding guide

25 guides · Breastfeeding

However you feed your baby, you are doing a good job. If you are breastfeeding, these guides cover latch, supply, the painful bits, pumping and stopping when you are ready, so you can find what works for you and your baby.

Guides in this section

• Breast engorgement and blocked ducts: causes and how to treat them. Engorgement and blocked ducts are common early breastfeeding problems.
• Breast milk storage: how long it keeps and how to freeze and thaw it safely. How long does expressed breast milk last? Learn NHS-aligned storage times for room temperature, fridge and freezer, plus how to freeze, thaw and handle it safely.
• Breastfeeding a premature baby: expressing, NICU and what to expect. Breastfeeding a premature baby starts with expressing in the early hours.
• Breastfeeding and your period: when it returns and how it affects supply. When will your period come back after giving birth? How does breastfeeding affect your cycle, and why does supply sometimes dip around your period? All your questions answered.
• Breastfeeding latch and positioning: getting it right. How to get a good breastfeeding latch and comfortable position: step-by-step guidance, signs of a good latch, common positions,...
• Breastfeeding support and the Stillberaterin. Understand the role of a Stillberaterin (lactation consultant), the difference from an IBCLC, and how to access statutory breas...
• Breastfeeding support and workplace rights. Federal law gives most employees the right to pump at work.
• Breastfeeding support: finding help and knowing your rights. A guide to breastfeeding support organisations, IBCLC lactation consultants, and your statutory right to paid breastfeeding bre...
• Breastfeeding support: where to get help. Australian Breastfeeding Association helpline, Child and Family Health Nurses, lactation consultants and free resources for bre...
• Breastfeeding twins and multiples: tandem feeding and getting enough milk. Breastfeeding twins is demanding but possible.
• Breastfeeding when you go back to work: expressing, storage and your rights. How to continue breastfeeding when returning to work: expressing schedules, milk storage, your legal rights to breaks, and how...
• Breastfeeding when you or your baby are ill: what is safe and what to do. Should you keep breastfeeding when you have a cold, flu, or gastroenteritis? What about when your baby is ill? Learn what is safe, and how to manage supply and medications.
• cluster feeding: why it happens and how to get through it. What cluster feeding is, why babies do it in the evenings, how long it lasts, and how to protect your milk supply through it.
• Foods and herbs that support milk supply. An evidence-based guide to galactagogues: foods and herbs traditionally linked to milk supply, what the science says, and what...
• How to stop breastfeeding: weaning gradually and what to expect. How to wean from breastfeeding step by step, what happens to your milk supply, the physical side effects to expect, and why the...
• keeping breastfeeding going when you return to work. How to maintain breastfeeding when you go back to work: expressing schedules, supply management, storage, and how to handle a d...
• Low milk supply: causes, signs and how to increase it. Find out what causes low milk supply, how to tell if your baby is getting enough, and the evidence-backed steps that genuinely help increase milk production.
• Mastitis: symptoms, causes and how to treat it. Mastitis causes a hot, hard, red area on your breast with flu-like illness.
• Night weaning: how to stop night feeds for babies and toddlers. When to night wean, gradual and cold turkey approaches, protecting your milk supply, and how to night wean a toddler.
• Nursing strike: why your baby suddenly refuses the breast. A nursing strike can feel like rejection, but it is usually temporary.
• Relactation: how to restart breastfeeding after stopping. Thinking about restarting breastfeeding after a gap? Learn how relactation works, what to realistically expect, the protocols that support it, and how to manage the emotional side.
• Tongue tie and breastfeeding. Tongue tie affects 4-11% of newborns and is a common cause of painful breastfeeding.
• Tongue tie in babies: symptoms and treatment. What tongue tie looks like in newborns, how it is assessed, when treatment is needed, and what to expect from a division proced...
• What to eat when breastfeeding: nutrition, calories and foods to limit. What do you actually need to eat when breastfeeding? Discover key nutrients, extra calorie needs, foods to limit, supplement guidance, and what the research really says.
• Why breastfeeding hurts: causes of pain and what to do about each. Breastfeeding should not be painful beyond the first moments of a feed.

Common questions

How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

Good signs are steady weight gain, plenty of wet and dirty nappies, and a baby who is content after most feeds. Your health visitor can weigh your baby and reassure you if you are unsure.

Why does breastfeeding hurt, and is that normal?

A little tenderness in the early days is common, but ongoing pain usually points to the latch. Repositioning often helps quickly. Cracked nipples, a blocked duct or thrush also cause pain and are worth getting checked.

What can I do about engorgement or a blocked duct?

Feed or express often, use gentle warmth before a feed and cold after, and massage the area towards the nipple. See your GP promptly if you develop a hot, painful lump with flu-like symptoms, as this can be mastitis.

How do I stop breastfeeding gently?

Drop one feed at a time every few days so your supply adjusts and you avoid engorgement. There is no right age to stop, and a gradual wind-down is kinder for both of you.