The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding as the best way to feed infants. They advise starting breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, feeding only breast milk for the first 6 months (no other food or drinks), and then continuing to breastfeed while introducing solid foods until 2 years of age or longer. These recommendations support healthy growth, development, and strong immunity for babies.
Breastfeeding success starts during pregnancy. Connecting with your prenatal care provider, such as a midwife, physician, nurse practitioner, or public health professional, can help you learn what to expect, prepare for breastfeeding, discuss any concerns, and access support before your baby is born. Learning about breastfeeding during pregnancy can help build confidence, increase knowledge and skills, and improve breastfeeding success after your baby is born.
Breastfeeding is a journey, and we are here to help! We have resources to help you make an informed decision about how to feed your baby.
If you are interested in learning more about breastfeeding, please contact us. We can provide all families with free information and support by telephone and in-person, to support you on your breastfeeding journey.
Watch this video to learn more.
Breastfeeding Matters Book (PDF): This resource provides information about the importance of breastfeeding, helpful tips about skin to skin, latching, hand expression, and feeding cues. It also provides information about breastfeeding positions, how to know if your baby is getting enough milk, how to help with breast discomfort, and how to store breastmilk.
Breastfeeding benefits a baby in many ways. It boosts the baby's immune system, providing antibodies that protects the baby from illnesses, provides nutrients and prevents obesity, promotes proper tooth development, healthy brain development and it reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Breastfeeding also benefits the mom. It can help control postpartum bleeding, decrease the risk of certain diseases, improve overall postpartum health, and promote a strong bond between mom and baby. Breastfeeding benefits the family in many ways. It is free, convenient and always the right temperature. It reduces healthcare costs and is environmentally friendly.
This concept encourages using hand expression to express small amounts of colostrum from the breasts, near the end of your pregnancy. It can have many benefits for mom and baby and improve breastfeeding success. You should speak to your health care provider before starting as it may not be recommended for everyone. If you would like more information, please reach out to one of our public health nurses.
Good positioning and a proper latch are important parts of successful breastfeeding. When your baby is well positioned and latched onto the breast correctly, feeding is more comfortable for you and helps your baby get enough milk. A good latch can also help prevent common challenges such as nipple pain or poor milk transfer. The videos below show different breastfeeding positions and tips to help you and your baby find what works best for you.
Most newborns breastfeed about 8-12 times in a 24-hour period. This frequent feeding supports healthy growth and helps build a strong milk supply. Holding your baby skin-to-skin and watching for early feeding cues, like rooting or sucking motions, can make breastfeeding easier.
A public health nurse can visit you to observe a feeding, offer support, and help you learn your baby’s feeding cues.
Tips to help support successful breastfeeding:
Skin to skin: A way of holding your baby to provide comfort. The baby is naked or wears only a diaper and is held on the mother or other caregiver's bare chest in an upright position. This provides many benefits such as stabilizing the baby's heart rate, breathing, and temperature, reducing stress, promoting a strong bond between baby and caregiver, and it can significantly improve breastfeeding success by encouraging early feeding reflexes, improved latching, and increased milk supply.
Feeding cues: Babies give us cues (signs) that show us whether they are hungry or full. Being responsive to these cues is known as cue-based feeding. It means watching your baby for behaviours, facial expressions, movements, and level of alertness to know when they want to feed.
Sometimes breastfeeding doesn't go as planned.
We can provide help and information, as well as referrals to health care providers for further follow up. If you have questions about nipple discomfort, engorgement, mastitis, plugged ducts, milk supply, jaundice or other challenges, please reach out to a public health nurse or learn more here.
There are many reasons why a parent may need or choose to express breast milk. This may include increasing milk supply, managing difficult or painful latching, or being separated from their baby for an extended period of time. There are different ways to express breast milk, such as hand expression or using a pump, and it may be helpful to try a few methods to find what works best for you. For more information or support, please contact us.
Expressing and storing breast milk fact sheet (PDF)
Hand expression
Hand expression is a useful way to remove milk from the breast using only your hands. It is a free and portable method that can be used anytime and anywhere.
Breast pumps
There are many types of breast pumps available, including manual and electric pumps, as well as single or double options. Some parents choose to purchase their own pump, while others may prefer to rent one. For information about breast pump rentals in your area, please speak with a public health nurse.
It’s important to know that breast pumps are not always necessary. Hand expression can be just as effective for many parents, especially in the early days, and can be a useful skill to learn. A public health nurse can help you decide what option may work best for you.
Free breastfeeding support from a public health nurse (by telephone or home visit):
- Brantford/Brant 519-753-4937 ext. 6464
- Haldimand/Norfolk 519-900-9600 or 905-798-9060 ext. 3250
- Well Baby drop-in dates/times: A PHN attends “Come Play! Just Baby and Me” at EarlyOn Brant once a month for support/discussions/health teaching. Find the schedule here.
- Brantford Pediatrics Breastfeeding Clinic is staffed by lactation consultants and pediatricians. This is a free self-referral service.
- Grand River Community Health Centre offers free support and advice from nurse practitioners. To learn more or book an appointment, call 519-754-0777.
- La Leche League provides peer-to-peer breastfeeding support for expectant parents, new families, and beyond.
- Primacare Lactation Consulting
GEPH Well Baby and Breastfeeding Drop-ins (Haldimand and Norfolk). Free breastfeeding support from a public health nurse. Find more information here.
International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC)
IBCLCs are trusted health care professionals who provide the gold standard of medically complex clinical lactation and infant feeding care.
- An IBCLC is available to provide breastfeeding support through the midwife-led Norfolk Prenatal and Newborn Health Program. Visit the Norfolk Family Health Team website or call 519-582-2323 ext. 282 for more information.
- The Ontario Breastfeeding Clinic offers 60 minute virtual, office and home consults with an IBCLC. Visit the website for more information and to book online. It's self-referred, offers subsidized rates with OHIP and has a fee for service.
- The Maternal Newborn Clinic at Norfolk General Hospital offers a variety of services for up to six weeks postpartum, including breastfeeding support. Visit the website or call 519-426-0130 Ext. 1279 or 3204 for more information.
Other breastfeeding support
- Dunnville is home to an in-person, weekly drop-in clinic that offers support with breastfeeding and tongue tie release from a trained provider. Referrals are required. Call 905-701-7428 for more information.
- Registered Midwives offer breastfeeding support as part of midwifery care. Visit the Norfolk Roots Midwives website and the Midwives of East Erie website for more information about local midwifery care.
- La Leche League provides peer-to-peer breastfeeding support for expectant parents, new families, and beyond. Visit Le Leche League Cayuga for more information.
- Haldimand Pregnancy Care and Family Centre can provide breastfeeding support, education and encouragement. Visit the website or call 905-774-1228 (Dunnville) or 905-765-0228 (Caledonia) for more information.
- Registered participants in the Healthy Moms Eating Well for 2 Program receive a variety of services, including breastfeeding education and support. Visit the website or call the Outreach Worker at 519-587-2441 or 1-800-265-8087 ext. 407 for more information.
- MCFN Breastfeeding Group: Free breastfeeding support. Group meets on the 1st Wednesday of every month from 12-1:30pm. Call 905-768-1181 for more information.
- Six Nations Breastfeeding Support Group gathers monthly for mothers living on the reservation. It is free service. For more information contact: 519-445-4922
- Aboriginal Health Centre offers free breastfeeding support by appointment. Call 519-752-4340 for more details and to arrange an appointment.
- Registered Nurses and Lactation Consultants are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for breastfeeding support and referrals through Health811. Visit the website or call 811 for more information.
- Rapid Access Pediatrics: Breastfeeding support from a lactation consultant. Covered by OHIP. Text: 289-326-1257 or 905-308-3214. 1300 Garth St., Hamilton.
- Ontario (Bilingual) Breastfeeding Support – Bilingual breastfeeding telephone support available 24/7 call 811
- About Breastfeeding
- Midwives of East Erie: Haldimand Tongue-Tie Assessment Clinic and Breastfeeding Support. Referral required. 905-701-7428