Breastfeeding benefits and tips

While at St Andrew’s Ipswich Private we offer new parents caring, professional support no matter what their feeding choice, we’re certainly big believers in the big benefits of breastfeeding.

As well as health benefits for mum and baby, breastmilk has no packaging (reducing environmental impact), doesn’t cost money and the skin-to-skin contact can enhance bonding and help calm both mother and baby. Skin-to-skin contact between mum and baby helps stimulate digestion and an interest in feeding – as well as stimulate release of hormones to support breastfeeding and mothering.

Benefits for baby^{^}

Babies who are fed breastmilk are less likely to be hospitalised for illness and infection. They have a lower risk of a variety of infections including gastrointestinal, middle ear, respiratory and urinary tract… and lower risk of obesity and diabetes in later life. There’s also reduced risk of some childhood cancers and of SIDS.

Benefits for mum^{^}

Breastfeeding can assist the uterus to return faster to its pre-pregnant state, may help women lose weight after birth, and may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and pre-menopausal breast cancer – as well as potentially reducing the risk of mothers with gestational diabetes developing type 2 diabetes.

Through our popular Know My Midwife program, St Andrew’s Ipswich Private Maternity offers breastfeeding education and support and access to lactation consultants. You can read more about the program here.

Partner support

Partners can practically support their partner with breastfeeding – such as by bringing baby to bed for night feeds and offering to bring mum a glass of water.

Once a new mum is confident and comfortable breastfeeding, they may express milk sometimes and the partner bottle feed the baby that expressed breastmilk.

^{^} www.health.qld.gov.au/clinical-practice/guidelines-procedures/clinical-staff/maternity/nutrition/breastfeeding/importance