Breastfeeding

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.

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.

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.

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).

Learn more on the Australian Breast Feeding Association website.