Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the act of a mother feeding her baby by excreting milk produced from her breast. Milk production begins due to hormones released in the body after birth, and continues for as long as the infant is still regularly breastfed.

For more information, see Breastfeeding.

Video: Dr Joe Kosterich talks about breastfeeding

It is often said that nature works in mysterious ways, but sometimes it's really not that mysterious at all. Dr Joe Kosterich talks about breastfeeding and breastmilk, including its benefits for infants, how long to breastfeed for, why it's good to breastfeed, expressing milk, storing breastmilk, problems with breastfeeding, and tips for breastfeeding.

For more information, watch the video Breastfeeding.

Nutrition during breastfeeding

Eating a healthy diet while you are breastfeeding is important because what you eat determines the energy, protein, nutrient and vitamin content of your breast milk. Nutritional needs must meet the requirements of both baby and mother.

For more information, see Nutrition During Breastfeeding.

Caffeine and breastfeeding

Many women feel excessively tired and stressed in the breastfeeding period, as at this time they are also adapting to the lifestyle changes associated with having a newborn baby. Some women may use caffeine to increase alertness and relieve fatigue, without considering that caffeine is a drug which may adversely affect their baby's health.

For more information, see Caffeine Consumption While Breastfeeding.

Contraception after childbirth and during breastfeeding

There are many considerations a woman must make about contraceptive use after childbirth. In particular, the woman must decide which contraceptive method to use and when to start using contraception.

For more information, see Contraception after Childbirth and During Breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding as a contraceptive method

The lactational amenorrhoea method of contraception is based on the natural phase of infertility that occurs with breastfeeding shortly after birth, due to low oestrogen levels that prevent ovulation from occurring.

For more information, see Breastfeeding as a Contraceptive Method.

Breastfeeding and the workplace

Combining work and breastfeeding can create considerable pressures for working women with newborn babies. As a result, working mothers are less likely to breastfeed their babies than non-working mothers.

For more information, see Breastfeeding and the Workplace.

Expressing breastmilk

Expressing breastmilk refers to the process by which a woman expels milk from her breast. The breastmilk can then be stored and fed to her baby at a later point in time. Milk may be expelled manually using the hands or with a pump especially designed for expressing breastmilk.

For more information, see Expressing Breastmilk.

Breast and nipple thrush

Breast and nipple thrush (BNT) is a yeast infection of the nipple and breast. It occurs most commonly in breastfeeding mothers, and may lead to severe nipple and breast pain, especially during breastfeeding. This can result in the mother weaning her baby and stopping breastfeeding before she had planned to.

For more information, see Breast and Nipple Thrush (BNT; Breast and Nipple Candidiasis; Mammary Candidiasis).