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Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed
a new baby and can be good for the mother’s health.

Breast milk is:

  • natural
  • free
  • the only food a baby needs to survive for the first 6 months of its life.

Breast milk can also help stop a baby from getting sick.

A woman holding a baby

Some women might choose to give their babies formula milk instead of breast milk.

This could be because they:

  • can’t breastfeed
  • find it very hard to breastfeed.
A baby bottle and baby formula

Women with disability may find it hard to breastfeed because:

  • they are very tired
  • they have a physical disability that makes it hard to breastfeed
  • their medication or health problem might stop them from making enough milk
  • their medication can go into the breast milk and hurt the baby.
A woman holding her head and her stomach. There is a heart with a healthcare symbol and some medication next to her

There is breastfeeding support available if you need it.

To get support you can:

  • talk to your doctor or midwife
  • call the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 268).
A woman holding a baby talking to another woman

Learn more on the Australian Breast Feeding Association website.

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