Breastfeeding has many benefits for mother and baby. It contains all the nutrients required and changes to adapt to your baby’s needs. It is recommended that babies are exclusively breastfed where possible until six months old, when solid foods can be introduced. Breastfeeding can be continued for as long as the mother and child desire.
Breastfeeding is a normal physiological process, however it is a skill that needs practice. Support and assistance in establishing breastfeeding is available from Central Coast Local Health District, through your midwife or care provider as well as the resources and information below.
Services and support
Breastfeeding support is available at Central Coast Local Health District both antenatally and postnatally through a range of services.
Antenatal support
Gosford Hospital Antenatal Clinic – Discuss with your midwife or care provider
Postnatal support
Child and Family Health Nursing Services – Breastfeeding support drop-in sessions
Clinics – Lactation support via Gosford Antenatal Clinic, by appointment
Discuss with your midwife or care provider.
Access other services, support, resources and advice
Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA)
Including their Breastfeeding Helpline – 1800 686 268 (24 hours, everyday) and mum2mum app. The ABA is Australia’s peak breastfeeding body, offering breastfeeding information, resources, online education classes, podcast episodes and more.
Karitane
Call 1300 227 464, and the Virtual breastfeeding clinic.
Tresillian Family Care Centres: Baby Advice & Parenting Tips
Parents Help Line – 1300 272 736
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby
Hotline – 1800 882 436
MotherSafe
Helpline – 1800 647 848 for concerns about exposures (e.g. medications, radiation) while breastfeeding.
Raising Children Network – the Australian parenting website.
Additional resources
ABA Multilingual Breastfeeding Booklets: How Breastfeeding Works (Australian Breastfeeding Association and Multilingual Health Communication Service)
Skin-to-skin contact – Australian Breastfeeding Association
The first week – Australian Breastfeeding Association
The benefits of breastfeeding
Why is breastfeeding recommended?
For most babies, breastmilk is everything they need to be well and healthy for the first six months of life. Exclusively breastfeeding (when the baby is only given breastmilk) maximises the benefits of breastfeeding for families. Your midwife of healthcare provider can discuss the benefits of breastfeeding with you.
Benefits for baby
Breastmilk contains essential elements to protect and build your baby’s immune system. Breastmilk changes from feed to feed to meet the needs of each baby and promotes healthy growth and development. Breastfeeding also promotes attachment between you and your baby through close interaction and skin-to-skin contact. Babies who receive breastmilk also have a reduced risk of some health conditions including urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal disorders, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and diabetes.
Benefits for mother
Breastfeeding has significant health benefits for mothers. It may help the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy state faster, reduce the risk of mothers with gestational diabetes (GD) developing type 2 diabetes, reduce the risk of ovarian cancer and pre-menopausal breast cancer and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.