Breastfeeding and breastfeeding support in Derby
Why choose to breastfeed?
It is a choice. Your choice for you and your family.
Breastfeeding has long-term benefits for you and your baby. The benefits include:
- Infant health - breastfeeding protects children from a vast range of illnesses: infection, diabetes, asthma, heart disease and obesity, as well as cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
- Maternal health - breastfeeding protects mothers from breast and ovarian cancers and heart disease.
- Relationship-building - breastfeeding supports the mother-baby relationship and the mental health of both baby and mother.
Breast milk is always the right temperature, clean and perfectly timed to your infant's feeding needs over the course of a single feed and as the baby grows.
Further information about breastfeeding and the benefits of breastfeeding can be found on the NHS website - Benefits of breastfeedingOpens in new tab
In our community:
- 7 out of 10 women give their baby breast milk when they were born.
- 8 out of 10 women who breastfeed, stop before they want to.
- Only 4 out of 10 babies are still receiving breast milk at 6 weeks old.
We want to support mums to continue breastfeeding for as long as they choose.