Breastfeeding FAQs

Why is breastfeeding important?

Breastfeeding a newborn is nature’s intended way of feeding. The benefits are quite extensive and long lasting. To name but a few, it provides the ideal nutrition for healthy growth and development, it contains other unique ingredients such as probiotics and human milk oligosaccharides to support your baby’s immune and digestive health, it creates loving bonds with your baby, assists with returning to your pre-pregnancy weight, it has financial savings… really this list goes on.

Can you drink coffee when breastfeeding?

It is known that caffeine does pass through into your breast milk. As caffeine is a stimulant and may affect your baby, it’s important to limit your intake while breastfeeding. Drinking small amounts, less than 200mg/day should be ok. 200mg is equivalent to approximately 1 espresso; 2 instant coffees; or 4 cups of tea. If you’re re-introducing coffee after your pregnancy you may want to start back slowly and monitor for any signs of unsettledness in your baby.

How many calories does breastfeeding burn?

Breastfeeding a newborn requires approximately 500 calories (2000 kilojoules) extra each day compared with if you were not breastfeeding. This extra allowance is to ensure that you meet the extra energy needs to sustain your breast milk supply. As your body requires this extra energy to produce breast milk, if you are not consuming these calories through your diet, your fat stores from pregnancy will help cover these needs.

Can you get pregnant whilst breastfeeding?

Yes. After your baby is born and while you are breastfeeding, your period may not return for a while. There are many factors that affect just how long this will be and breastfeeding is definitely not a fail-safe form of contraception. The hormone prolactin, which is responsible for making breast milk, is what stops ovulation. When an egg is eventually released from your ovaries it can be fertilised. The challenge with using breastfeeding as a form of contraception is that you may not get your period as a warning before that first egg is released, meaning you can fall pregnant.

Can you drink alcohol whilst breastfeeding?

It is safest to avoid alcohol while breastfeeding. The level of alcohol in your bloodstream passes directly into your breast milk. This blood alcohol level can stay there for several hours, so it’s difficult to determine if your blood alcohol level has cleared from your breast milk before breastfeeding. Any alcohol can harm your baby.

How to stimulate milk supply?

You can stimulate milk supply by ensuring frequent and effective breastfeeding sessions, practicing skin-to-skin contact, staying hydrated, ensuring adequate nutrition, and using breast compression techniques to encourage milk flow. Additionally, getting adequate rest and reducing stress can positively impact milk production.

How to stop breastfeeding?

Making the decision to wean from the breast is a very personal choice and depends on various individual factors. It’s important to know that reversing a decision not to breastfeed is difficult so seek advice from a healthcare professional if you have any questions or concerns. If you have decided to stop breastfeeding, gradually reducing breastfeeding sessions over a period of weeks allows both you and your child to adjust more comfortably. Additional comfort or alternative feeding methods may be needed to ease the transition, all of which depend on the age and needs of your little one.

How often to feed a newborn?

Breastfeeding newborns typically occurs every 2-3 hours, or 8-12 times a day. It's important to watch for hunger and fullness cues and feed your baby on demand. Hunger cues can include rooting, sucking on hands, or fussiness and crying. Breastfeeding frequency will vary between babies, and it's essential to seek guidance from a healthcare professional for personalised advice.

How do you lose weight while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding naturally burns extra kilojoules as your body works tirelessly to produce milk for your newborn. Any weight loss while breastfeeding needs to be done carefully, focusing on a balanced diet, staying hydrated, engage in some physical activity, and getting adequate rest. Gradual weight loss is recommended to ensure a healthy milk supply. If you’re concerned about your weight after birth, talk to your healthcare professional for personalised advice.

How long to breastfeed?

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Infant Feeding Guidelines recommend exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months of age. At this time, it’s important to introduce solid foods to help meet the growing needs of your infant.  It’s recommended to continue breastfeeding while introducing solid foods, to 12 months of age and beyond as long as you feel comfortable doing so.

How to breastfeed?

Breastfeeding a newborn provides the best source of nutrition, it supports healthy growth and development from birth and provides an amazing bond between mum and baby. Any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial and getting started as soon as possible after the birth of your baby is key. Learning about the benefits of breast milk, how to get a good latch and the different hold techniques can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your confidence up and supporting your breastfeeding journey. Reach out to a lactation specialist if you are finding breastfeeding difficult or need extra support to keep it going.

Can you over breastfeed a newborn?

While it is possible to overfeed a newborn through breastfeeding, it’s unlikely. A baby can self-regulate their hunger and fullness naturally, however it’s still important to be aware of your baby’s fullness cues so that you don’t force feed them. Overfeeding can lead to discomfort, spitting up, or excessive weight gain so it is something you want to try and avoid. Aim to feed your baby on demand and seek guidance from your healthcare professional if you are concerned about your baby’s milk intake or feeding frequency.

What not to eat when breastfeeding?

The great news is that once you have given birth, there is no longer that long list of foods off limits anymore… at least no more than before you got pregnant. You should however continue to avoid alcohol while breastfeeding as alcohol can pass through your milk to your baby. Check out our article on foods to avoid when breastfeeding, or for more tailored advice to meet your needs talk to a dietitian.

What is lactating?

Lactating refers to the production and secretion of milk from the mammary glands, typically following childbirth. It is a natural physiological process that allows a mother to provide nourishment and essential nutrients to her infant through breastfeeding.