Arguments persist on the virtues of breastfeeding and it seems that even many of the previously trusted statistics are now in question. The answer is to take advice but to trust your own judgement. There are a few simple things to keep in mind that will help in those early months.

It seems increasingly difficult for mothers to wade through ever increasing amounts of advice on breastfeeding. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming and difficult to decipher what is meaningful. Lots of different statistics are bandied about on the benefits of breastfeeding and even a leading advisor from the world health organisation, Professor Michael Kramer, has recently cast doubt on the health benefits. He is quoted as saying; ‘the public health breastfeeding promotion information is way out of date. There is very little evidence that it reduces the risk of leukaemia, lymphoma, bowel disease, heart disease and high blood pressure.' The Professor puts forward the view that the length of time mothers manage to breastfeed is related to class divisions and that many of the supposed health benefits of breastfeeding are therefore actually explained by the differences of lifestyles between classes rather than the benefits of breastfeeding itself.

Even the Government campaign which carries the slogan ‘Breast is best' has been criticized as potentially making breastfeeding seem like something to aspire to rather than being an everyday and natural activity.

Despite all this conflicting information, most mothers decide that it is likely to be healthier and a more natural experience to breastfeed. After getting advice, it comes down to trusting your judgment. Ultimately, it's a choice for mothers to make but a recent poll showed that 9 out of 10 wished they had continued breastfeeding for longer. There are the undoubted emotional and psychological benefits for mother and baby. The suckling of the baby directly after birth helps the uterus contract, something that bottle feeding cannot do. When the baby latches on, it triggers this necessary internal reaction in the uterus which, in turn, stops the mother from hemorrhaging.

There are a few things to bear in mind:

Breastfeeding can take practice and does require persistence and a constant effort - it doesn't just come as naturally as people would like to make out.

It may well be painful, particularly in the early days, but persist for as long as you can, under the advice of a doctor if necessary.

Don't be overly concerned if the baby seems constantly hungry. As long as you are producing milk that is good. It is a case of supply and demand - you will catch up!

Breastfeeding in public does not have to be a big deal and there are lots of products on the market to make life simpler. The breastfeeding covers and aprons can give you some support if you feel you need it.

Mother - not superwoman

‘Latching on' is one of those much debated issues and is often a problem for new mums in the early stages who are obviously concerned that the baby is getting enough milk. It is best if you can get this established while you are still in hospital and can get advice from the midwife - don't be afraid to ask for help and get another opinion if necessary. The Doctor Jack Newman website is a great source of advice on this.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that babies are individuals and therefore have varying appetites and feeding patterns. Comparing against other babies is not necessarily useful. The fact that they seem to feed all night for the first few weeks is not necessarily a bad thing. Hormone levels are higher at night and this helps to get the breastfeeding established. It's a good idea to wear a sleeping bra too although make sure it is not too tight or you could cause mastitis.

Of course, if you are breastfeeding, then sooner or later you will have the issue of breastfeeding in public; whether it is in the local café or down at the doctor's surgery. It can be an additional source of stress and many mums give up breastfeeding because of this.

You can't control your babies feed times and so it is impossible to organize your life around them. The best solution is to be prepared and try and be a little more relaxed about it. There are many products available that can assist mums (and their babies) to gain confidence in the early days of breastfeeding in public. The breastfeeding cover (or apron) is one such product. The breastfeeding cover works well through both the early stages of breastfeeding in public but also when the baby gets older and is more easily distracted. The cocooned and secure environment provided by the cover allows mum to maintain eye contact and the baby to be shielded from distractions. Some mums use cloths to cover up in public but it is harder to keep an eye on how well baby is feeding.

Advice comes from all directions when you are a new mum, and much of it seems contradictory. It can be a great strain when you are worried about doing the right thing. Probably the best advice is to listen but in the end, judge what seems to be right for your baby.

Dawn Callery

At Freedom Babe^TM, we support the premise that it is purely Mum's choice on how best to feed her baby and neither promote one way or the other.

Breastfeeding in public has to become part of the regime for any mum that wishes to successfully breastfeed. However, a recent survey of 1200 new Mums(1) showed that a staggering 65% felt so intimidated about feeding in public that they were not even going to attempt it. Amazingly, despite the legislation, half the mums said they'd been asked to leave the establishment and a third of them found the whole experience very stressful and 35% felt they needed to disappear into a toilet rather than breastfeed in public.

There are clearly a large number of mums who need support but currently find themselves in extremely difficult circumstances. Locking yourself and your baby in the toilet in a café or restaurant is not the only option. There are a number of different options available.

One of the most obvious options is to use some form of ‘cover up'; often in various fabric designs and degrees of complexity in their use. The discreet breastfeeding cover / apron by Freedom Babe is a breastfeeding cover that can be easily pulled out of the changing bag and placed over your body with one hand whilst leaving the other hand free to hold baby. The key aspect of the design is that it creates a secluded and intimate space for baby to feed and still allows mum to maintain eye contact with the baby throughout the feed.

The breastfeeding cover or apron, as they are sometimes called, has the additional benefit of preventing the baby from being distracted; especially from older children. The cover provides a secure environment which cocoons the baby from the outside world and helps to extend the time that the baby is likely to feed.

Products such as the breastfeeding cover / apron could be classed as a much needed aid or stepping stone to give mums confidence in those early days.

Dawn Callery