Up Front Breastfeeding Support Group

Support for Mums by Mums in Cornwall

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FAQ
Q:  How long should I breast feed for?

A:  As long as your baby needs to. It is best for to purely breastfeed for the first 6 months and then gradually reduce the number of feeds and increase the number of solid feeds  


Q: My baby is feeding for an hour or more at a time. Is this right?
A: Your baby knows when he/she has had enough however, the length of time is different for each baby. Some feed for 10 minutes orthers for 30 minutes. However, positioning and latch should be looked at if feeding is thought to be taking too long. If the latch is not right then feeding is not effective and it will take the baby longer to get what he/she needs. lasy babies also fall asleep during the feed and need to be woken to remind them what they are there for. Swapping breaste and changin the babies nappy during a feed can wake a baby enough to continue feeding.
Q:  My nipples are sore, is this normal?
A:  Nipples after the first few feeds wil be a little tender. they are getting used to be used in a way which they are not used to. However nipples should not be very sore and certinaly should not be cracked or bleeding. This usually means that the baby is not latched on correctly and you should seek help from either your midwife if you are still under thier care or the health visitor. Or alternatively atted one of your local breastfeeding support groups for help and support in assisting you to pain free feeding, or see Positioning and Latching  page on this site for help.
Q: Does breastfeeding hurt?
A: The answer to this is very simple NO it should not hurt. If it hurts it will again as above usually mean that the baby is ot latched on correctly this can mean a very slight adjustment but this does need to be done as soon as possible as more problems can occur if this is not altered. (please see Positioning and Latching page)
Q:  Where can I get help and asssistance outside of the hospital / health professional area?
A: There are many places where help can be sought. One is right here. However for your local breastfeeding support group  you can click this link for some areas in the uk http://www.realbabymilk.org/index.php?option=com_sobi2b&Itemid=39.
Q: If you breastfeed will this change my breasts?
A: If you choose to breastfeed it is likley that your breasts may grow bigger than they were during prenancy. However they should return to pre pregnancy size or near enough after feeding has ceased.
 
Q: Where can I feed in public?
A: You can feed anywhere that you wish or is practicle to do so. (if you are adept at feeding it has been known to feed whilst doing your food shopping wandering up and down the isles)! However, on a more serious note, you as a breastfeeding mother are allowed to feed anywhere where you need to / or want to. There is no law agianst it. The Government Equalities Office has confirmed that:
 

1) There is not, and never has been, any law that prohibits a woman from breastfeeding a child of any age in public, for example in a cafe.

2) The 1975 Sexual Discrimination Act created legal protection for a woman under the provision of goods, facilities and services section. This protection covered a woman breastfeeding a child, of any age, by implication, and meant that she could not be discriminated against for breastfeeding in places such as restaurants, cafes, surgeries, libraries etc.

3) The 2008 amendment to the SDA brought in more specific cover under the wording of ‘maternity’ – this also brought in the first mention of a six-month period, as it is tied to broader maternity rights covering 6 months before and after birth – whereby a mother could also challenge the owner under the grounds of maternity

4) The Equality Bill seeks to make it even more explicit that this maternity protection includes breastfeeding, by including the word breastfeeding in the statute.

 
 
However there are places which state (usually on their doors ) that they are breastfeeding friendly. If you would prefer to go somewhere where you are guarenteed to be welcomed with open arms then look for these signs.