Say hello to your baby at birth in skin to skin. This special time should be unhurried and uninterrupted unless your baby requires medical attention. The first magical hour or for as long as the mother wishes, provides the perfect opportunity for your baby to gain all the wonderful benefits of skin to skin, develop close and loving relationships, establish feeding and enhance their developing immune system.
Skin to Skin contact at birth
Meeting Your Baby for the First Time video
Off to a Good Start Breastfeeding Booklet
The Off to a Good Start Breastfeeding Booklet provides you with all the information that you will require to have a successful feeding journey. Your midwife will provide you with it at your antenatal appointment and it is available online in a variety of languages. It is highly recommended that you read the booklet during your pregnancy and bring to hospital with you for when your baby arrives.
Positioning and Attachment
Positioning and attachment video – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
Ineffective Attachment
Ineffective attachment video – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
Is your baby getting enough milk?
Is Your Baby Getting Enough Milk – Video – Global Health Media Project
The first two weeks of breastfeeding: what to expect
Increasing your milk supply
Increasing Your Milk Supply – Video – Global Health Media Project
Maximising Breastmilk
Maximising breastmilk – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
Power Pumping
Power pumping is the process of pumping breast milk very frequently in a short amount of time to help increase your supply.
Power pumping to increase breast milk supply – Ardo
Hand Expression
Hand expression video – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
Expressing and Storing Breastmilk
Expressing your milk is a useful skill. If you are going somewhere without your baby, and he is likely to want to feed while your away, you can express your breastmilk. Hand expressing can be used in the early days and you can use a breast pump once breastfeeding is established.
NHS England – Off to the Best Start
A guide to help you start breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding is good for you and your baby
- How to breastfeed
- Signs that your baby is feeding well
- How do I know my baby is getting enough milk
- Vitamin D
- Your baby’s nappies
- Support services
- Useful Resources
Off to the best start leaflet – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
Birth to Five
This book provides information on caring for children up to five years old and contact details for useful organisations. It is available to new parents resident in Northern Ireland through primary care services (antenatal clinics, GPs or health visitors). This booklet is provided to you after the birth of your baby.
Caring for baby at Night
Learn more about how babies sleep. The website presents research evidence about biological normal sleep for human babies.
- Caring for your baby at night and when sleeping (unicef.org.uk)
- BASIS – Baby Sleep Information Source (basisonline.org.uk)
Safer sleep for babies: a guide for parents and carers
Safer-sleep-for-babies-a-guide-for-parents-web.pdf (lullabytrust.org.uk)
The Lullaby Trust – Safer Sleep for Babies
Safer Sleep For Babies (youtube.com)
UNICEF – Relationship Building and Baby Brain Development
Relationship building resources – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
Brave New World
A great insight into the developing brain of a baby from birth to 14 weeks old.
The importance of Relationship Building
Responding to babies’ needs for comfort and food is hugely beneficial for brain development and makes for more confident toddlers. Parents should be supported in breastfeeding responsively and keeping their babies close to help them become happy, healthy and secure children and adults.
The Importance of relationship building video – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
Building a happy baby: a guide for parents
Responsive breastfeeding involves a mother responding to her baby’s cues, as well as her own desire to feed her baby. Crucially, feeding responsively recognises that feeds are not just for nutrition, but also for love, comfort and reassurance between baby and mother.
Building a happy baby: A Guide for Parents Leaflet – Baby Friendly Initiative (unicef.org.uk)
Solihull Approach Online Parenting Courses
Online free parenting courses are a great way to get advice, learn new skills and become a confident and happy parent. The Solihull approach aims to help parents understand their child’s behaviour in the context of their development and parent-child relationship.
Online courses for parents – Solihull Approach | Parenting (solihullapproachparenting.com)
Breastfeeding Support
- Red leaflet
- SHSCT Breastfeeding Support Groups
- Peer Support Volunteer Service
- Breastfeeding Specialist Service
- Infant Feeding Helpline
Breastfeeding out and about
This leaflet provides information and advice for mums on making breastfeeding part of their everyday life. It also highlights the introduction of the ‘Breastfeeding welcome here’ scheme.
Breastfeeding out and about | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
Breastfeeding Welcome Here Scheme:
The Breastfeeding welcome here scheme is an initiative that makes it easier for mums to recognise places where they can breastfeed their baby when they are out and about.
Breastfeeding welcome here scheme – businesses | Breastfed Babies
What dads should know about breastfeeding:
This leaflet gives fathers and expectant fathers information on the benefits of breastfeeding for both their baby and their partner. It highlights the importance of their support in helping their partner to continue to breastfeed.
What dads should know about breastfeeding | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)
A grandparent’s guide to supporting breastfeeding
This leaflet is for grandparents who want to support their daughter or son’s partner in their decision to breastfeed. It answers any questions or concerns they may have and describes what support they can offer.
A grandparent’s guide to supporting breastfeeding | HSC Public Health Agency (hscni.net)