Key points to remember

• breastfeeding helps lay the foundations of a healthy life for your baby
• breastfeeding is good for your health and wellbeing too
• exclusive breastfeeding is recommended until your baby is ready for and needs extra food - usually around six months of age
• most women can breastfeed but many mothers need help when they begin breastfeeding, especially with a first baby

How to breastfeed

See the following resources:

• breastfeeding your baby - Ministry of Health information on why breast milk is a baby’s best food; different ways to hold your baby during breastfeeding; how to make sure your baby is on the breast in the best way; frequency of feeds; breast care and further help. This is also available in Simplified Chinese, Korean, Māori, Samoan and Tongan
• Ministry of Health Breastfeeding NZ website -  information for mothers and mothers-to-be
• breastfeeding naturally videos - a series based on a Breastfeeding NZ, Ministry of Health DVD which follows nine women on their breastfeeding journey. It includes tips for successful breastfeeding and shows the realities of breastfeeding for women and their families. You can view the first video in the series by clicking the play button below

Breastfeeding and working

For information about options for feeding including expressing and working see:

• breastfeeding and working - a Ministry of Health pamphlet which sets out the advantages of breastfeeding, explains how to manage breastfeeding at work, including how to express breastmilk, and offers several brief stories in which women describe how they managed breastfeeding after returning to work. This pamphlet is also available in Samoan and Tongan
• part seven of the Ministry of Health's breastfeeding naturally videos - returning to work, below

The video clip covers:

• continuing to breastfeed when you go back to work
• expressing and storing breast milk
• talking to your employer about breastfeeding breaks and having a comfortable place to breastfeed
• wow early childhood centres can support breastfeeding
• juggling work and home
• taking baby to work with you
• benefits to employers of supporting mums to continue to breastfeed

Where to go for more information and support   

Support and help with breastfeeding is available from:

• your midwife
• all Well Child providers
• Plunket
• your general practice team
• La Leche League

If you are having difficulty breastfeeding, you can be referred to a specialist lactation consultant

Telephone advice

• ring PlunketLine on 0800 933 922 for advice about breastfeeding, nutrition or your child's growth
• LLL (La Leche League) leaders provide free telephone advice about breastfeeding issues (see the LLL website to find a local contact)

Organisations and website advice

Ministry of Health Breastfeeding website www.breastfeeding.org.nz
This website has useful advice including videos and pictures of how to breastfeed and discussion of common problems. Information includes:

• how to breastfeed
• stages of breastfeeding
• where to find help
• breastfeeding stories

Plunket www.plunket.org.nz
Plunket is New Zealand's largest provider of Well Child and family health services.

See the Plunket website for:

• food and nutrition (breastfeeding)
• getting ready to feed
• breastfeeding commonly asked questions
• problems and solutions
• expressing milk
• spilling and reflux
• using breastmilk substitutes

La Leche League (LLL) New Zealand www.lalecheleague.org.nz
LLL New Zealand is part of an international organisation which is recognised by the World Health Organisation as the world's leading authority on breastfeeding. LLL New Zealand has approximately 140 leaders who are experienced in breastfeeding and have been trained in the latest techniques that can make breastfeeding work for you. Contact details of New Zealand groups and group leaders are available at the LLL New Zealand website.