Breastfeeding in Western Sydney

Learn more about breast health, breastfeeding, and breastfeeding support services available in Western Sydney Local Health District.

Mother in yellow dress breastfeeding baby outdoors
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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.

The first feed

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.

Early breastfeeds

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 in the special care nursery (NICU)

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 and preventing allergies

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).

Breastfeeding FAQs

These factsheets can answer questions about specific breastfeeding situations. For example, breastfeeding after surgery.

Videos and factsheets

Videos

Factsheets

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 at Westmead Hospital

Breastfeeding is a normal and important part of caring for your baby. You are welcome to breastfeed your child in any public or private space across Westmead Hospital.

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

Community breastfeeding clinics

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:

Support with breastfeeding difficulties

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:

Factsheets

Breastfeeding, childbirth and parenting education workshops

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

About breastfeeding

Western Sydney Local Health District recommends exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age. At around six months start nutritious family foods, together with continuing breastfeeding until two years and beyond.

You will receive breastfeeding information when you book in to the hospital. We recommend that all women and families attend breastfeeding education during pregnancy. For concerns about feeding your baby, speak with your midwife or doctor. If needed, they can refer you to the breastfeeding team during your pregnancy at Auburn, Blacktown or Westmead Hospitals.

Breastfeeding education and workshops

We offer supportive, evidence-based breastfeeding education for parents-to-be. Our programs have a strong focus on positive preparation and building confidence before your baby arrives. Our sessions gently guide you through what to expect, how breastfeeding works, and how to get off to the best possible start, so you feel informed, supported, and ready. If you would like to join or workshop or learn more please click below.

Blacktown breastfeeding workshops

Westmead breastfeeding workshops

Learn more about childbirth and parenting education in western Sydney.

Breastfeeding the early days

The early days of breastfeeding are about:

  • You and your baby getting to know each other.
  • Finding your rhythm together.
  • Recovering from the birth.

With guidance and reassurance, you can approach this time with confidence.

In Western Sydney, we:

  • Recommend placing baby in skin to skin contact immediately after birth. This allows time for bonding and preventing unnecessary separation (no matter how you choose to feed baby). Make sure your baby’s nose is free to breathe.  
  • Recommend you keep baby close whenever you can, so you learn to recognise and respond to baby’s feeding cues.
  • Support you to feed your baby whenever needed.
  • Provide information on signs that your baby is getting enough milk.
  • Support you to work through any breastfeeding problem.
  • Recommend that you avoid giving your baby anything other than breastmilk, unless there is a medical reason.
  • Recommend that you do not feed your baby with teats or use a dummy (pacifiers). They can make learning to breastfeed more difficult for baby.
  • Link you and your family to support services after discharge. Such as child and family health nursing services and organisations such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association.
  • Provide a culturally safe place for all families.
  • If you and your baby are separated, we will help you to build your milk supply by expressing breast milk until you can be reunited with your baby.
Factsheets
Multicultural information
Useful links
Videos

Expressing and storing breastmilk

Expressing and storing breastmilk can support your breastfeeding journey and is very important if you are separated from your baby. Learning safe and effective ways to express, store, and handle breastmilk can help you feel confident that your baby continues to receive the benefits of breastmilk whenever direct breastfeeding isn’t possible.

Factsheets
Useful links
Videos

Breastfeeding challenges

Breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed your baby, but it can come with challenges. This section provides evidence-based information to help you understand some breastfeeding challenges and how to access the right support when you need it.

Factsheets
Useful links
  • Low milk supply
  • Mastitis
  • Sore nipples 
Videos
  • What to do about nipple pain
  • Increasing your milk supply
  • Common breastfeeding challenges and getting help 

     

Breastfeeding in the special care nursery (NICU)

Breastfeeding is very important if your baby is in special care or neonatal intensive care nursery. Because your baby cannot be with you straight away, a midwife will help you express colostrum (the first milk) for your baby within the first hours after birth.

Factsheets
Useful links
  • Breastfeeding premature babies in the NICU
  • Breastfeeding your premature baby 

Breastfeeding support after you leave hospital

After you leave hospital, ongoing breastfeeding support is available across Western Sydney to help you feel confident and supported at home. Families can access free support from local Child and Family Health nurses. You can also contact trusted services such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) and Lactation Consultants Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ), who provide evidence-based breastfeeding advice and care in the community. 

To find out more about free breastfeeding support and information and the services our Child and Family Health nurses offer, contact:

Factsheets
Useful links
  • Speak to a breastfeeding counsellor for free from the Australian Breastfeeding Association
  • To find a lactation consultant near you visit Lactation Consultants Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ)
  • Find local Child and Family Health Centres
  • For free service providing counselling on medications and exposures while breastfeeding, call MotherSafe on 1800 647 848
Videos
  • Watch Breastfeeding problems: getting support

Related information

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