Breast health
A woman's breasts naturally undergo changes throughout her lifetime. It can be brought about by pregnancy, breastfeeding, hormonal effects related to menopause, and weight gain or loss. Although many breast changes are normal, some may not be.
By checking your breasts regularly, you will be more likely to notice changes. You should report any unusual breast changes to your doctor as soon as possible.
As the incidence of breast cancer is increasing, women are encouraged to be breast aware. This is important for women regardless of age and effective for prevention and management of breast cancer.
Any changes in your breasts should not be ignored and should be checked by your family doctor. Learn more about:
About our breastfeeding support services
Breastfeeding is free, saves you time and has many natural benefits. Your baby needs no other food or drink except breast milk for the first 6 months of life. At 6 months, your baby can eat home-made family foods and breastfeed until 2 years of age and beyond.
We offer breastfeeding support, advice and workshops for first-time mothers and parents and to address any problems or concerns. For more information email wslhd-westmead-parentingeducation@health.nsw.gov.au
Learn about breastfeeding your baby and find translated information in Arabic, Chinese Simplified and Vietnamese on the NSW Health website.
You can also find more translated resources from the Multicultural Health Communication Service In-language health resources library.
Preparing for breastfeeding
In the weeks before your baby is born, learn about breastfeeding so you feel comfortable with what to expect. This is a good time to discuss any questions you may have with your midwife or doctor.
It is important to place your baby skin-to-skin with you as long as possible. Your baby is placed naked on your skin between your breasts with a towel or blanket place over to keep them warm. Left undisturbed, baby will make their way to your breast and start feeding.
Your midwife will help position baby. Baby’s head should be free to move, and baby’s nose should not be blocked by the skin of your breast. Skin-to-skin contact keeps baby calm and less likely to cry when in this position.
If the first breastfeed is delayed, it is important to express your milk (colostrum) within the first 2 hours after birth. This will stimulate your breasts to build up your milk supply. Your midwife will help you to feed the colostrum to baby.
The first hours and days after birth are the beginning of a new relationship between you and your baby. Like any new relationship, it takes time and practice to feel comfortable with each other and to feel confident feeding your baby.
Spend plenty of time together, as close contact will help you to get to know and trust each other. If your baby has breastfed well after birth, they may not want to feed again for several hours. It is important to have as much skin-to-skin contact with your baby in the first 48 hours to ensure they are latching and feeding well. This gives your baby easy access to your breasts and lots of opportunities to learn to breastfeed.
Learn to know your baby’s feeding cues (signs your baby is ready to feed). It is good to offer the breast as soon as your baby shows you these signs.
It is normal to breastfeed 8 to 12 times a day in the first few days.
Videos
Factsheets
Breastfeeding is still important even if your baby is in special care and cannot be with you straight away. Your midwife will help you express colostrum (the first milk) for your baby.
Videos
Factsheets
Breastfeeding provides the best source of nourishment for your baby in the early months of life.
Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed for at least six months. Please contact your midwife if you have any concerns about breastfeeding.
Breast feeding has many advantages for both mother and baby:
- Breast milk is nutritionally complete for the first 6 months of life.
- Breast milk is hygienic and always the correct temperature.
- Breast milk contains immune cells.
- Breast milk is the least likely to cause allergies in babies.
- Breastfed babies are less likely to be overfed.
- Breastfeeding promotes good jaw and tooth development.
- Breastfeeding is free, and convenient.
- Breastfeeding promotes close mother-baby contact.
Calcium
Extra calcium is needed during breastfeeding. It is recommended to have at least 1200mg calcium daily. For young women and adolescents, even more calcium is needed, up to 1500mg calcium daily. Most of the extra calcium requirements are met by improved calcium absorption from the mothers' diet.
It is best to include 3 to 5 calcium-rich foods each day. The richest dietary sources of calcium are dairy products or fortified soy products like milk, yoghurt, cheese, custard and ice cream. Smaller amounts are found in salmon, almonds, spinach, broccoli, dried apricots and tahini.
If your diet is low in calcium rich foods, a dietary calcium supplement may be needed. Your dietitian or doctor will advise you if you need it.
Allergies
For the latest information on allergy prevention in infants please contact your health professional. You can also read the ASCIA guidelines for infant feeding and allergy prevention factsheet (PDF 204.03KB).
These factsheets can answer questions about specific breastfeeding situations. For example, breastfeeding after surgery.
- Breastfeeding and contraception - Progesterone Only Pill [POP] (PDF 196.03KB)
- Breastfeeding and having surgery (PDF 327.77KB)
- Breastfeeding after an MRI, CT or VQ scan (PDF 798.15KB)
- Breastfeeding with Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C (PDF 3.01MB)
- Stopping Breastfeeding (Lactation Suppression) (PDF 334.28KB)
- Medication to dry up breastmilk (Lactation Suppression) (PDF 254.19KB)
- Mixing breastfeeding and infant formula (PDF 940.02KB)
Videos
Factsheets
- How your breasts make milk factsheet (PDF 547.33KB)
- Helping baby to breastfeed factsheet (PDF 613.48KB)
- Hand expressing of colostrum (the first milk) during pregnancy factsheet (PDF 698.84KB)
Acknowledgements:
These resources were produced in collaboration with the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) and Raising Children Network with special thanks to:
- Renee Kam ABA breastfeeding counsellor and private lactation consultant
- Yasna Blandin de Chalain, maternal child health nurse and counsellor
- Simone Casey, ABA breastfeeding counsellor and private lactation consultant.
The Raising Children Network invites organisations and individuals to download and add this parenting video to their websites free of charge.
Note: The videos must not be edited and must appear with the following statement: "Sourced from: the Raising Children website, Australia's trusted parenting website."
Find a breastfeeding support service
Use our Service Directory to find a health service near you
Breastfeeding education and workshops
We offer breastfeeding support, advice and workshops for first-time mothers and parents and to address any problems or concerns. Learn more about childbirth and parenting education in Western Sydney.
For more information, email wslhd-westmead-parentingeducation@health.nsw.gov.au
This free breastfeeding support and advice service is offered by our Child and Family Health nurses.
To make enquiries or a booking, call one our health centres:
- Doonside Community Health Centre: (02) 8670 3300
- Merrylands Community Health Centre: (02) 9860 9800
- The Hills Community Health Centre: (02) 8853 4500
If you have previous breastfeeding problems or concerns, you can request for an appointment with our lactation consultant. Ask your doctor or midwife for a referral to the Antenatal Breastfeeding Clinic.
The lactation consultant will call to make an appointment before you have your baby. This service is only available for women who give birth at Westmead Hospital.
All women can contact the Australian Breastfeeding Association for support and advice on 1800 686 268.
For more support:
- book in for one of our breastfeeding workshops
- learn about breastfeeding by getting a good attachment
- learn more about breastfeeding and cup feeding your baby
- learn more about breastfeeding your baby from NSW Health.
Factsheets
We offer in-person and online childbirth and parenting education classes for women birthing at Blacktown and Westmead Hospitals.
The childbirth classes are run by midwives and accredited childbirth educators. The breastfeeding classes are facilitated by our lactation consultant.
Learn more about our childbirth and parenting education in Western Sydney