While research overwhelmingly shows that breast milk is better for your baby`s overall health and development, the decision about how you wish to feed your baby should be based on an informed choice of what you feel is right for you and your baby in the first few months.
Helping you to choose
Although the health benefits of breast milk are widely recognised, the hazards of bottle feeding are less well known and formula milks continue to be widely perceived as being a safe and easy alternative to breastfeeding.
Worries with breastfeeding include embarrassment, physical discomfort, such as sore nipples, and women`s lack of confidence in their bodies` ability to produce enough milk to satisfy their baby`s needs. However, regardless of a woman`s individual breast size and shape, or their baby`s size, shape and needs, it is known that 98 out of 100 women would be able to breastfeed if they wished to. Yet some of these factors account for the fact that in the United Kingdom (UK) about a third of women do not give their babies any breast milk at all...
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Additional information and resources
Baby Milk Action
34 Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1QY
01223 464420
Email: info@babymilkaction.org
Department of Health
Food Standards Agency
Lactation Consultants of Great Britain
PO Box 56, Virginia Water GU25 4WB
Email: info@lcgb.org
La Leche League Great Britain
PO Box 29, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7NP
Tel: 0845 456 1855
Email: enquiries@laleche.org.uk
National Breastfeeding Helpline
Tel: 0844 20 909 20
National Childbirth Trust
Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace, London W3 6NH
Breastfeeding Line: 0870 444 8708
The Breastfeeding Network
PO Box 11126, Paisley PA2 8YB
Tel: 0844 412 4664
Email: breastfeedingnetwork@googlemail.com
UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative
2 Kingfisher House, Woodbrook Crescent, Billericay,
Essex CM12 0EQ
Tel: 0844 801 2414
E-mail: bfi@unicef.org.uk
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