Useful links
NHS Choices - NHS info, helplines and links on breastfeeding
Find a local breastfeeding mothers group
La Leche League - find a breastfeeding mothers' group near you. A great place to build your own network of ongoing support.
Local breastfeeding drop ins - run by health professionals, peer supporters, or breastfeeding counsellors
General breastfeeding information
La Leche League Int'l - breastfeeding FAQs, forum and mother to mother support
Breastfeeding Made Simple - breastfeeding explained, also good sections on post-partum depression and sleep
Kellymom - evidence-based info on all aspects of breastfeeding, sleep, and parenting
Biological nurturing - videos and photos explaining laid-back breastfeeding
Drug fact sheets from the Breastfeeding Network
Best for Babes - avoiding the Booby Traps for new mothers
Australian Breastfeeding Association - info on breastfeeding
BASIS - All about infant sleep!
Books and leaflets, slings and bras
LLLGB online shop - the UK's best selection of books on breastfeeding, birth and parenting, and leaflets on all aspects of breastfeeding
NCT online shop - a great assortment of slings, nursing bras, and more for new parents
For Dads, by Dads!
Cribside Assistance - New Dad Manual
Expressing milk for your baby
Hand Expressing: videos from Baby-Friendly and Stanford; animation (scroll down for English)
Pump hire: Ardo; local Clapham NCT pump agents (scroll down)
"Hands-on" pumping - technique for maximising milk production (register for free 24 hour access to video)
If your baby requires supplementation with formula milk for medical reasons:
In some cases mothers may need to supplement their milk with formula milk on a short term or long term basis. Your IBCLC lactation consultant will always want to ensure that your baby is getting enough milk, whether breastmilk or formula, and will work with you to help you to make a good supply of breastmilk.
Formula can provide a nutritionally adequate substitute for your breastmilk but the use of formula increases health risks for both mother and baby. If you need to use infant formula, this can reduce your milk supply: you can protect your milk supply by pumping/expressing while you work with your qualified breastfeeding professional to improve breastfeeding. If you need to use infant formula, it is vital to follow current NHS guidelines, because infant formula is not sterile even when unopened, and can be contaminated. This can happen even in developed countries. Please see guidelines below.
All IBCLC lactation consultants must support the World Health Organization Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes (and relevant UK law) according to our Code of Professional Conduct.
Safe bottle feeding - NHS info on safe preparation of infant formula and bottle feeding if your baby requires supplementation
"Baby-led bottle feeding" techniques from Fleur Bickford IBCLC