Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding information forms are available via this link Read more about breastfeeding
Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby
- it’s all your baby needs to eat and drink for about the first six months
- it helps protect your baby against colds, tummy-bugs, infections and allergies
- it helps your baby feel safe and secure
Breastfeeding is best for you too
- it’s free
- it saves you time
- it gives you a chance to rest while you are feeding your baby
- it helps you feel close to your baby
- it may reduce your risk of some cancers and bone disease
Breastfeeding Healthed resources
Breastfeeding your baby booklet provides clear, simple suggestions covering the nursing relationship, why breast milk is a baby’s best food, different ways to hold the baby during breastfeeding, how to ensure the baby is on the breast in the best way, frequency of feeds, breast care and further help.
Can be viewed online in the following languages
Breastfeeding support
There are a number of organisations in the Wellington, Porirua and Kapiti Coast who provide support with breastfeeding. These include:

Links to resources and information
Hand expressing https://www.healthyfamiliesbc.ca/home/articles/video-hand-expressing-breastmilk
Using a pump and your hands at the same time to make more milk http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html
Remember, if you have a risk factor for low milk supply ( induction of labour, caesarean section, polycystic ovaries, diabetes, baby in NICU, IVF, obesity and some others) it is very valuable to have some colostrum for your baby, especially on the 2nd night.
Check with your LMC midwife or consultant if they are happy for you to start expressing and collecting your milk whilst you’re pregnant. If you experience uterine tightenings whilst expressing, or any bleeding, then stop and consult your LMC.
Breastfeeding DVD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shhSsbEcqkI
YouTube clip showing how to latch your baby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l5BpqllTLg
http://www.skintoskincontact.com/ssc-based-mother.aspx why skin to skin is important
http://www.llli.org/resources.html La Leche League - for great information about breastfeeding
The Unicef Baby Friendly Initiative provides advice about breastfeeding, links to youtube, and if you want to know more about proven health benefits of breastfeeding
http://www.kidshealth.org.nz/good-latch-key-successful-breastfeedingThis site has graphics of latching baby at the breast, and hand expressing
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/breastfeeding-questions-support The NZ Ministry of Health’s breastfeeding website
Expressing and latching breastfeeding videos
These videos provide advice on how to breastfeed and solutions to problems you may encounter.
How to Express Breastmilk (with Mandarin subtitles)
Attaching your baby at the breast (with Mandarin subtitles)
Is your baby getting enough milk? (with Mandarin subtitles)
Increasing your milk supply
Deep latch technique
Read more about healthy eating, support services, looking after your health while pregnant, support services, newborn screening programmes and parenting help, information and courses.
You can also find out about giving birth at our hospitals, as well as support from our community midwifery and obstetric teams here.