Around 72% of women who have a vaginal birth have a straightforward, spontaneous vaginal delivery and research has shown that this is the best type of birth to get breastfeeding off to a good start.

So what can be done to help establish breastfeeding if you don't have  a straightforward vaginal delivery. 

Sometimes help will be needed to deliver a baby and so you may need to have what is known as an instrumental delivery or a cesarean section and these types of deliveries can mean that establishing breastfeeding can be abit more difficult. 

This episode will be looking at how assisted deliveries and why the place of birth can impact breastfeeding and also what you can do to get your breastfeeding journey off to the best start no matter how or where you give birth.

Links

For information about choice of birth -  

https://birthrights.org.uk/factsheets/choice-of-place-of-birth/

For information about place of birth -

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/preparing-for-the-birth/where-to-give-birth-the-options/

For information about pain relief - 

https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/what-happens/pain-relief-in-labour/

When we become pregnant our main focus is preparing for labour and the birth. We attend numerous classes in preparation such as antenatal classes, hypnobirthing and yoga classes.

But how many of us prepare for breastfeeding? 

Todays podcast discusses all the ways you can prepare to breastfeed to get your journey off to the best start.

Links

https://laleche.org.uk/

https://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-factsheets/

https://www.clapa.com/treatment/feeding/breastfeeding/

https://downsyndromeuk.co.uk/health/feeding/

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/breastfeeding-your-baby-congenital-heart-disease

With so much conflicting advice about feeding your baby, it can be really hard to make a decision.

Even if you are certain you want to breastfeed your baby it is still really useful for you to learn and understand why breastmilk is so amazing and in todays episode I will be discussing the benefits and reasons to breastfeed including what I personally believe is the most important reason of all. 
 

Welcome to The Happy Breastfeeding Podcast. I am Louise Nu-Mai Harrison, a  breastfeeding peer supporter, counsellor and educator with over 15 years of experience of helping families on their own breastfeeding journey.

Whether you are breastfeeding a newborn or even a school aged child this podcast is for you. So join me, as I share the latest breastfeeding information and helpful tips to help you achieve your own breastfeeding goals. I will be discussing real life stories (including my own breastfeeding journey) interviewing experts and talking with parents about what life as a breastfeeding family is really like. 

Starting in February 2025, I am here for you twice a week with new episodes every Tuesdays and Fridays.