Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding provides nutrition that changes to meet your baby's needs and offers health benefits for both of you. It can also support comfort, connection and bonding.

In the first few days after birth, your body produces colostrum — a small amount of nutrient-rich milk. Your milk supply increases over the following days and your breasts may feel fuller as your milk "comes in".

The World Health Organization and Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life however many women and babies continue beyond this. Breastfeeding is a skill that you and your baby learn together and many women need professional support along the way.

Expressed breast milk

Some women choose to express breastmilk and feed it to their baby. This lets your baby receive breastmilk when feeding directly at the breast isn't possible, preferred or practical. Expressing may be a temporary tool or a long-term plan. Not everyone who breastfeeds needs to express.

In the first few days, breastmilk is often expressed by hand. As your supply increases, you may use a breast pump. Expressed milk can be given by:

• bottle, using responsive or paced feeding techniques
• cup feeding, often a short-term option while feeding is being established
• a supply line (breastfeeding supplementer), which lets your baby receive extra milk while feeding at the breast
• feeding tube, used in special care or neonatal settings when babies can't yet take all feeds by mouth.

Learn more

Expressing and storing breast milk | Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

Expressing breastmilk & storing breastmilk | Raising Children Network

Helping your baby take expressed breastmilk | Australian Breastfeeding Association

Co-feeding and induced lactation

Some families choose co-feeding, where more than one parent produces milk and feeds the baby. Others choose induced lactation, where a person develops a milk supply without being pregnant or giving birth. This may be an option for non-birthing parents, adoptive parents, intended parents through surrogacy, and some transgender and gender-diverse parents.

Building a milk supply takes time, and the amount produced varies from person to person. Speak with your maternity care provider or a lactation consultant to understand your options.

Learn more

Co-feeding and induced lactation | Australian Breastfeeding Association

Induced Lactation Adoptive Breastfeeding | Pregnancy Birth and Beyond

Tandem feeding

Tandem feeding means breastfeeding a newborn and an older baby or child at the same time, or feeding more than one baby of the same age, such as twins or triplets. For most women, breastfeeding during pregnancy and tandem feeding are safe and your body can usually produce enough milk for both children.

When your new baby arrives, it's recommended their feeding needs come first. There's no single right way to tandem feed. Some parents continue feeding both children whereas others reduce feeds or wean the older child. A lactation consultant or healthcare provider can help you find a plan that works for your family.

Learn more

Tandem feeding | Australian Breastfeeding Association  

Breastfeeding while pregnant and tandem feeding | Pregnancy, Birth and Baby

Suppressing lactation

Whether you choose not to breastfeed from birth, or decide to stop later, your body will gradually adjust.

If your baby has never breastfed, wearing a supportive bra, avoiding touching your breasts, and using cold packs as needed can help suppress milk. You don't need to bind your breasts or restrict fluids.

If your milk has come in, reducing breastfeeding or expressing small amounts can help minimise fullness, pain and the risk of mastitis. Medication may be available in some situations to help reduce or stop milk production.

Whatever your reasons, your decision should be respected and support is available to help you manage the transition safely and comfortably.

Feeding challenges