Reasons to breastfeed

Breastmilk has everything a baby needs. It contains water, vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates for nutrition. It also contains additional substances which aren’t found in formula milk: hormones, growth factors, immunological factors, protective factors and essential fatty acids help the baby grow, sleep, and fight infection and disease.

Breast milk has an amazing ability to change to give your baby exactly what they need. The first milk you make after giving birth is called colostrum.

It is very concentrated and packed full of antibodies and immune cells, boosting your baby’s immune system from birth.

Milk changes from colostrum to mature milk over the first few days. You might leak milk don’t worry if you don’t notice anything, this isn't a sign you don't have enough milk for your baby.

Your milk changes to suit your baby’s needs.  If a baby is sick, the milk will have antibodies to help fight infection. On a hot day, your milk will be more watery to quench your baby's thirst.

This is all a baby will need until they are six months and then women can continue to breastfeed alongside introducing solids.

Not only does breastmilk change as the baby gets older but it changes from feed to feed.

Formula milk is the best alternative to breastmilk if a mum chooses to, or needs to, bottle feed. Formula milk is usually made from cow’s milk. Regular cow’s milk can’t be digested by babies so the milk has to be altered first. Other ingredients such as soy protein and fish oils are added for nutrition. For more information on formula milk please see UNICEF’s guide to bottle feeding.

Breastmilk is:

  • free and convenient: you don’t need formula milk, bottles, teats or sterilising equipment
  • always available, with the right ingredients at the right temperature, so it’s easier to feed at night or on the go
  • it’s environmentally friendly because there’s no manufacturing, packaging or waste.

Breastfeeding also helps:

  • you form a bond with your baby
  • everyone get more sleep, as you don’t have to get up at night to prepare bottles plus breastfeeding releases hormones that make you and your baby feel sleepy.

There are many benefits to breastfeeding, listen to some mums and dads from Medway describe their favourite things about breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding makes a difference to you and your baby every day.

Babies health

Antibodies in breast milk help protect your baby from illnesses including:

  • vomiting and diarrhoea
  • ear and chest infections
  • kidney infections
  • cow's milk allergy, asthma and eczema

If breastfed babies do become ill, evidence shows that the illness is milder and passes more quickly.

Babies who are breastfed have lower blood pressure and lower total cholesterol later in life. They are less likely to have childhood diabetes, childhood obesity and heart disease. Breastfeeding also helps support brain development and is thought to increase IQ and reduce behavioural problems.

Your health

Women who have breastfed are at a lower risk of:

  • breast cancer
  • ovarian cancer
  • osteoporosis (bone thinning)
  • type 2 diabetes
  • endometriosis
  • breastfeeding also helps you regain your pre-pregnancy weight more easily.

Breastfeeding to six months and beyond

Breastmilk has all the nutrients and water your baby needs, in the right amounts for the first six months of your baby’s life. A breastfed baby doesn’t need anything else.

  • Babies have very delicate digestive systems that are designed to drink their mum’s milk.
  • You can’t overfeed your baby when breastfeeding. Overfeeding your baby, which can happen with bottle feeding, can cause a tummy upset.
  • Breastmilk protects your baby from infections and diseases, both immediately and throughout adulthood.
  • Breastfeeding lowers your risk of developing illnesses such as breast cancer, postnatal depression and heart disease.
  • Breastmilk is ready when you need it, no preparation or costs involved.
  • Breastfeeding can help you and your baby form a strong bond.
  • Breastmilk adapts to meet your baby’s needs.

Breastmilk continues to benefit babies when you start introducing solid foods from six months.

It is a personal choice when you choose to stop breastfeeding. If you're enjoying breastfeeding, you can continue for as long as you and your baby want to. There's no need to stop before you're both ready. Before having a baby, most women have an idea of how long they aim to breastfeed their baby for.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends babies are given only breastmilk for the first six months of their lives. After six months WHO recommends babies are given breastmilk, alongside solid foods, until they are two years old.

If you feel the time is right for you and your baby, see our when you're ready to stop page for more support. 

Many women feel pressured to stop breastfeeding. Women face a number of challenges including going back to work, pressure from family members or partners, excessive advertising of infant formulas and “follow on milk” or concerns about breastfeeding in public. Sometimes women find the friends they made in antenatal classes or baby classes stop breastfeeding their children and they feel that they should too.

Breastfeeding drop-ins are a great way to find extra support when breastfeeding beyond six months.

Holly explains why she has chosen to breastfeed Aurora into her second year alongside other foods.

Formula milk

Formula milk is the best alternative to breastmilk if you choose or need to bottle feed. It’s usually made from cow’s milk which can’t be digested by babies so the milk has to be altered first. Other ingredients such as soy protein and fish oils are added for extra nutrition. NHS.uk has a guide to making up formula milk safely and there are some more tips below.

  • ‘First infant formula’ is the only formula suitable from birth. You can continue to give this to your baby up to one year before moving on to normal cow’s milk.
  • ‘Follow-on milk’ is not suitable for babies under six months. You don’t need to change to follow on milk after six months.

Before baby arrives

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