My Breastfeeding Plan
If you are having your baby at a hospital, check to see if the hospital is ‘Baby Friendly’ accredited. Hospitals with
this accreditation already have policies that reflect many of the preferences in this plan.
ABOUT US
My name is:
My partner’s name is:
Our baby is due on:
BEFORE THE BIRTH

My partner and I will attend an ABA Breastfeeding Education Class.
Although natural, breastfeeding is a learned skill. Educational programs have been shown to be the most
effective single intervention for improving breastfeeding initiation and duration. Research indicates that
women who attend breastfeeding education classes before their baby is born are more likely to continue to
breastfeed and have a more realistic and positive view of parenting. i

I will join the Australian Breastfeeding Association, as my subscription includes a copy of the
Association’s book called Breastfeeding … naturally, a bi-monthly magazine called Essence and
access to local get-togethers run by trained breastfeeding counsellors and community educators.
While your newborn baby has the in-built skills needed to breastfeed, new mothers gain skills to breastfeed
from previous experiences watching other mums breastfeed. Many mothers say that, with hindsight, they
would have benefited from attending ABA meetings before their baby was born. There is also good evidence
that mother-to-mother counselling promotes the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding. ii

I will talk to my partner about how important breastfeeding is to me and our baby and how
his/her support is vital to establishing and maintaining breastfeeding.
A vital source of breastfeeding support is your partner. His/her attitudes have been shown to be an
extremely important factor in the initiation and duration of breastfeeding.iii

I will speak to my employer about a return to work policy that supports breastfeeding employees.
This site has lots of helpful information.
Many women want or need to return to work after they have had a baby. With the right planning,
information and support, combining breastfeeding with work is easily achievable. The Breastfeeding-Friendly
Workplace Accreditation program is an initiative of the ABA. Accreditation is given to workplaces that meet
set criteria in relation to providing breastfeeding or expressing facilities, support for breastfeeding mums and
flexible work options. If your workplace is not already accredited, why not provide them with a BFWA
information pack today!
IMMEDIATELY AFTER BIRTH (vaginal or caesarean)
The following preferences are possible if both you and your baby are well, regardless of whether you have a
vaginal or caesarean birth.

We would like our baby to take his/her first breaths unassisted (no suctioning unless medically
necessary).
Routine suctioning has been found to affect a baby’s breastfeeding cues and ability to breastfeed easily. iv

Please place our baby on my chest immediately after birth, with a warm blanket covering his/her
body for warmth. Many hospitals now allow this in theatre while you are being sutured, if you are
having a caesarean birth.
Skin-to-skin contact with mum straight after birth helps your baby to stabilise his/her temperature,
breathing, heart rate and blood sugar levels. Early skin-to-skin contact encourages successful breastfeeding,
and your baby’s hand and mouth contact with your belly and your breasts stimulates maternal oxytocin to
enhance uterine contractions, milk let-down and mother-baby bonding.v

I would like our baby to remain with me on my chest to encourage him/her to self-attach for
his/her first breastfeed (with assistance from me as I feel is appropriate).
Research shows that, if left undisturbed, a healthy newborn baby will take up to 1–2 hours to orientate
toward the breast, attach and start to breastfeed. Babies affected by medications used during labour may
need a little longer. Allowing your baby to self-attach (with assistance from you as you feel is appropriate)
ensures that your baby learns to hold his/her tongue and mouth in the correct position to effectively milk
your breast.vi

Please perform all essential paediatric observations while our baby is on my chest.
It is possible for most procedures for newborn babies to be carried out with the baby on the mother’s chest.
Such contact provides your baby with optimal physiologic stability, warmth and opportunities to breastfeed.
Removal of the baby to weigh, measure and so on has been shown to seriously disturb the first breastfeed.
There is no reason for these procedures to be performed immediately after birth. vii

We would like our baby to be weighed after his/her first breastfeed, lying on his/her tummy on a
warm cloth.
Research has shown that if a baby is taken from his/her mother for weighing and dressing, s/he may not
show any interest in feeding and may not know how to suck. Lying on his/her back is very different to being a
in the foetal position. A baby placed on his/her back is therefore likely to become very frightened, resulting in
the release of stress hormones. Baby’s temperature is also likely to drop. viii
IF MY BABY OR I REQUIRE SPECIAL CARE AFTER BIRTH

If I am unable to hold our baby skin-to-skin after birth, I would like my partner to hold our baby.

I wish my breasts to be treated gently and only touched with my permission.
Learning to search for the breast on their own is very important for all babies, as this ensures their tongue
and mouth are in the right position to attach to your breast correctly. Babies who are forced onto the breast
may not attach properly and this may cause damage to your nipples. ix

If our baby cannot breastfeed within 6 hours of birth, please assist me to express my colostrum
every 2 hours to stimulate my milk supply and for feeding to our baby when s/he is ready.
Expressing milk gives your body the signal to keep making it (supply=demand). Colostrum is the perfect first
food for babies and is produced in the right amounts to suit a newborn’s stomach size. It contains important
antibodies that aid your baby’s immune system. It is also crucial for the health and growth of your baby’s
bowel.
THE EARLY DAYS

I will breastfeed my according to his/her needs and will follow my baby’s feeding cues in terms of
length and frequency of feeds.
Early, frequent breastfeeding is the single factor that has consistently been shown to underpin a good start
to breastfeeding. Research shows that breastfeeding in response to early feeding cues (as opposed to timed
or scheduled feedings or waiting for the baby to become distressed and crying) helps prevent engorgement,
decreases the incidence of sore nipples, helps to ensure milk supply matches baby’s appetite, decreases the
incidence of jaundice, increases the rate of baby weight gain and increases the duration of breastfeeding.x

I will keep my baby skin-to-skin as much as possible for at least the first few weeks after birth.
Skin-to-skin contact is important for stimulating the hormones needed to make milk. It also assists with
bonding and is lovely for both of you to cuddle your baby as much as possible!

I would like to room in with my baby at all times so that I can learn our baby’s feeding cues.
Research shows that mother-baby rooming-in on a 24-hour basis enhances opportunities for bonding and for
optimal breastfeeding initiation. Evidence suggests that mothers get the same amount and quality of sleep
whether their babies room-in or are placed in a separate nursery at night.xi

I do not wish to bathe our baby for at least the first 48 hours after birth.
Washing your baby washes off the rich vernix cream your baby is born with, which helps his or her skin to
adjust to life outside the womb.

I do not wish to wash my chest area for 24 hours after the birth.
Your baby’s sense of smell is one of the most important elements of initiating breastfeeding. Research shows
that newborn babies prefer their mother’s unwashed breast to her washed breast. The amniotic fluid that
your baby transfers to your chest area as s/he breastfeeds will leave a ‘scent trail’ for future breastfeeds.xii

My partner and I will not wear perfume/aftershave or use strong-smelling deodorant or soap for
the first few days after birth.
These products can eliminate or mask natural odour signals that a newborn baby uses to locate the breast. xiii

We would prefer that relatives and friends do not cuddle our baby for at least the first 24 hours.
Handling of your baby by friends and relatives will leave their individual smells (food, perfume, aftershave,
deodorant, cigarette smoke) on his or her clothes. This may confuse your baby and interfere with his/her
recognition of you as his/her mum and his/her ability to breastfeed. xiv

We do not want our baby to have artificial nipples (dummies or bottles) at any time. If alternative
feeding methods of expressed milk are needed, we would like our baby to be fed using a syringe,
cup or spoon.
Research has shown that the use of dummies and other artificial nipples in the neonatal period is detrimental
to exclusive and overall breastfeeding. Bottle-feeding requires very different tongue and jaw movements and
has a very different milk flow to that of breastfeeding. When supplemental feedings are medically necessary,
cup feeding has been shown to be safe for both term and preterm babies and may help preserve
breastfeeding duration for babies requiring multiple supplemental feedings xv

We do not want our baby to receive anything other than breastmilk unless medically necessary. If
it is considered necessary, we would like to discuss this first with a paediatrician.
Human milk provides all of the fluid and nutrients necessary for optimal infant growth. Research shows that
routine supplementation of healthy, term infants with water, glucose water or artificial baby milk is
unnecessary and may interfere with establishing normal breastfeeding and normal metabolic compensatory
mechanisms. Supplementation can affect your milk supply, alter your baby’s bowel flora, sensitise your baby
to allergens and interfere with your baby’s weight gain.xvi

If there are concerns about our baby’s weight, I would like to try more frequent feeding and other
strategies for addressing this, with complements only to be given as a last resort and by a
breastfeeding supplementer.
Nearly all mothers are capable of producing enough breastmilk for their babies. Just as you have already
nurtured your baby in your womb for 9 months, so your body is designed to continue providing nourishment
once your baby is born. If complementary feeds are medically necessary, breastfeeding supplementers have
the advantage of supplying your baby with nutrition while at the same time stimulating the breast to
produce more milk and reinforcing the act of breastfeeding for your baby. The supplementer may be filled
with your expressed milk, donor milk, or artificial baby milk.
IF I NEED MORE INFORMATION OR SUPPORT

I will remind myself that breastfeeding, although natural, is a learned skill.

If I need information or support regarding breastfeeding, I will not hesitate to:
o
call the Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 686 268, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
o
email an Australian Breastfeeding Association counsellor
o
check out the up-to-date information contained on the Australian Breastfeeding
Association’s website and in the Association’s large range of breastfeeding-related
booklets
o
contact an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant if I have problems that ABA
counsellors are unable to help me with
o
contact my local Australian Breastfeeding Association group for support and friendship
from other breastfeeding mums.
Sometimes mums and bubs need a little help to get the hang of breastfeeding and sometimes problems
do arise. With the right support at the right time, most breastfeeding problems can be solved. The
Australian Breastfeeding Association is recognised internationally as a source of accurate and up-todate information about breastfeeding. It is a great partner for you and your baby in your breastfeeding
journey.
i
Wiles (1984) The effect of prenatal breastfeeding education on breastfeeding success and maternal perception
of the infant. Journal of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatal Nursing 13(4): 253-257; Duffy, Percival, Kershaw
(1997) Positive effects of antenatal group teaching sessions on postnatal nipple pain, trauma and breastfeeding
rates. Midwifery 13 (4): 189-196; Guise, Palda, Westhoff, et al (2003) The effectiveness of primary care-based
interventions to promote breastfeeding: systematic evidence review and meta-analysis for the US Preventive
Services Task Force. Ann Fam Med 1(2): 70-78.
ii
Cox (2002) Breastfeeding: I can do that. TasLac, Tasmania; Brodribb (2004) Breastfeeding Management 3rd
edition, Australian Breastfeeding Association 48; Palda (2004) Interventions to promote breastfeeding: applying
the evidence in clinical practice. CMAJ 170: 976-978.
iii
Bentley, Caulfield, Gross, Bronner, Jensen, Kessler, Paige (1999) Sources of influence on intention to breastfeed
among African-American women at entry to WIC. Journal of Human Lactation 15(1): 27-34;Arora, McJunkin,
Wehrer, Kuhn (2000) Major factors influencing breastfeeding rates: mother’s perception of father’s attitude and
milk supply. Pediatrics 106(5): 1-5.
iv
Cox (2009) Baby Magic: Planning for a lifetime of love, Australian Breastfeeding Association, Victoria: p26.
v
American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (2007) Breastfeeding: Maternal & infant aspects. Special
report from ACOG, ACOG Clinical Review, 12(supp), 1s-16s; Bergstrom, Okong, & Ransjo-Arvidson (2007)
Immediate maternal thermal response to skin-to-skin care of newborn. Acta Paediatr 96(5), 655-658; Fransson,
Karlsson & Nilsson (2005) Temperature variation in newborn babies: Importance of physical contact with the
mother. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 90, F500-F504; Kroeger & Smith (2004) Impact of birthing practices on
breastfeeding: Protecting the mother and baby continuum. Boston: Jones and Bartlett.
vi
Widstrom, Wahlberg, Matthiesen (1990) Short-term effects of early suckling and tough?? of the nipple on
maternal behaviour. Early Human Development 21(3): 153-63; Varendi, Portern, Winberg (1994) Does the
newborn baby find the nipple by smell? Lancet 344 (8928): 989-990; Cox (2009) Baby Magic: Planning for a
lifetime of love, Australian Breastfeeding Association, Victoria: p23.
vii
Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, 4th edition, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2000; Christensson, Siles,
Moreno, et al (1992) Temperature, metabolic adaptation and crying in the healthy full term newborns cared for
skin-to-skin or in a cot. Acta Paediatr 81: 488-493; Righard and Alade (1990) Effect of delivery room routines on
success of first breastfeed. Lancet 336 (8723): 1105-1107.
viii
Cox (2009) Baby Magic: Planning for a lifetime of love, Australian Breastfeeding Association, Victoria: p75.
ix
Cox (2009) Baby Magic: Planning for a lifetime of love, Australian Breastfeeding Association, Victoria: p23.
x
Colson (1997) Some perspectives on breastfeeding with particular reference to caesarean section. New
Generation Digest 20:9-11; Renfrew, Lang, Martin, Woolridge (2000) Feeding schedules in hospitals for newborn
infants, Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000(2): CD000090; Daly, Hartmann (1995) Infant demand and milk supply.
Part 2: The short-term control of milk synthesis in lactating women, Journal of Human Lactation 11(1): 27-35;
Bertini, Dani, Tronchin, Rubaltelli (2001) Is breastfeeding really favouring early neonatal jaundice? Pediatrics
107(3):E41; Semmekrot, De Vries, Gerrits, van Wierringen [Optimal breastfeeding to prevent
hyperbilirubinaemia in healthy, term newborns] (2004) Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 148(41): 2016-2019.
xi
Keefe (1988) The impact of infant rooming-in on maternal sleep at night. Journal Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs
17: 122-126.
xii
Varendi, Porter, Winberg (1994) Does the newborn baby find the nipple by smell? Lancet 344(8928): 989-990.
xiii
Varendi, Porter, Winberg (1996) Attractiveness of amniotic fluid odour: evidence of prenatal olfactory
learning? Acta Paediatrica 85: 1223-1227.
xiv
Cox (2009) Baby Magic: Planning for a lifetime of love, Australian Breastfeeding Association, Victoria: p72.
xv
Howard, Lanphear, et al (2003) Randomized clinical trial of pacifier use and bottle-feeding or cup feeding and
their effect on breastfeeding. Pediatrics 111: 511-518; Howard, de Blieck, ten Hoopen, et al (1999) Physiologic
stability of newborns during cup and bottle-feeding. Pediatrics 104: 1204-1207.
xvi
Hawdon, Ward Platt, Aynsley-Green (1992) Patterns of metabolic adaptation for preterm and term neonates
in the first postnatal week. Arch Dis Child 67: 357-365; Blomquist, Jonsbo, Serenius, et al (1994) Supplementary
feeding in the maternity ward shortens the duration of breastfeeding Acta Paediatr 83:1122-1126; Kramer, Guo,
Platt, Sevkovskaya, Dzikovich, Collett, et al (2003) Infant growth and health outcomes associated with 3
compared with 6 mo of exclusive breastfeeding. Am J Clinical Nutrition 78(2): 291-295.
September 2012
© Australian Breastfeeding Association