Breastfeeding

Protect your baby

Breast milk is the only natural food designed for your baby

The benefits of breast milk and breastfeeding include:

breast milk contains all the nutrients the baby needs for around the first 6 months of life and helps to support their immune system
breast milk containing colostrum, which is full of antibodies that help protect your baby from any infections during initial feeds
mother’s milk production will adapt to the baby, the more often you feed the more milk you will produce
the complex composition of breast milk is constantly changing to meet the baby’s nutritional requirements
breastfeeding can strengthen the bond between you and your baby

Benefits for your baby

There are many benefits of breastfeeding for your baby, such as:

breast milk significantly contributes to the battle against weight and obesity
the prebiotic oligosaccharides found naturally in breast milk are special nutrients that can encourage the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive system
protection against ear infections
protection against chest infections and wheezing
lower risk of diabetes
less risk of eczema
protection against diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and tummy upsets
better mental development
better mouth development and straighter teeth
nappies not as smelly

Benefits for the mother

There are many benefits of breastfeeding for the mother, such as:

lower risk of ovarian cancer
lower risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer
stronger bones in later life
can assist with a faster return to pre-pregnancy figure.

About the Isle of Man Infant Feeding Team

The Isle of Man Infant Feeding team supports parents to make informed decisions about feeding and caring for their babies.

Our aim is to enable parents to breastfeed and safely bottle feed by providing support and information both before and after your baby is born.

We offer:

facilitation of Breastfeeding Buddies (a mums’ support/advice group)
provision of individual support to women who are experiencing challenges with their feeding journey
management of antenatal groups and parent education sessions
support with safe bottle feeding
support with weaning

We have recently been accredited Baby Friendly Stage 1 by UNICEF. This means all of our team members across Maternity, Health Visiting and the Infant Feeding team operate to the same standards for supporting mothers both before and after birth. Find out more about UNICEF Baby Friendly Accreditation.