OBS Recommended Antenatal Resources

These are some links that might be helpful before your birth and while you and your baby learn the skill of breastfeeding. You can find more in our Recommended Resources for Parents.

Why Breastfeeding Matters

• Breastfeeding saves lives, improves health and cuts costs in every country worldwide

Antenatal expression of colostrum

This isn't necessary in most pregnancies, but is recommended for those who have diabetes and/or who are at higher risk of being separated from their baby after birth.

• Expressing your milk before your baby arrives
• Antenatal Expression of Colostrum

Holding and attaching your baby comfortably for feeding

• The Global Health Media videos are excellent and cover a range of early breastfeeding topics (and are available in many different languages)
• The video Attaching your baby at the breast is especially good (featured in our antenatal session)

"Laid-back"/"Baby-Led" breastfeeding 

• Comprehensive "natural breastfeeding" video
• Dr Christina Smilie's video (featured in our antenatal session)

The magic of holding your baby skin to skin

• Skin-to-skin Contact
   

How dads, co-parents and other key adults can help 

• Baby Buddy videos from Best Beginnings - also includes other helpful videos about feeding.
   

 How to tell when your baby is interested in feeding

• Hunger Cues - When do I feed baby? 
   

How often to feed your baby

• Breastfeeding - the dangerous obsession with infant feeding interval 

How to tell if your baby is getting enough milk

• What's in a nappy?
• Is Your Baby Getting Enough Milk?

Expressing your milk

• By hand
• Using a breast pump (and your hands as well)
   

If breastfeeding isn’t easy at first

If your baby is early, small, unwell or there are any concerns about your baby getting enough milk.  

• A simple way to boost your milk supply and feed your baby extra breastmilk in the first few days
• Getting breastfeeding back on track after a difficult start

Breastfeeding Books

• Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
• Positive Breastfeeding Book

Sleep

• Durham University's Baby Sleep Information Source
• Safer sleep and the breastfed baby
• Sweet Sleep (book)
  

Oxford Maternity Voices Partnership are running a variety of Facebook Live sessions with Maternity staff, sharing important information with families. The Infant Feeding Team is often live on Thursday afternoons.

Where to get help with feeding 

• Your midwife or health visitor
  
  
• OBS offers support via in-person sessions, video and phone breastfeeding support and Facebook.
   
• La Leche League Oxfordshire offers in-person and virtual support group meetings and help by phone, email, Facebook and more, from trained local breastfeeding counsellors.
   
• Other ways to find feeding support, including national telephone helplines

Information on  COVID-19

• Information from Oxford University Hospitals Trust about maternity care during the pandemic
• RCOG's pages on Coronavirus infection and pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding
  
• RCM's page on Covid Vaccine Facts, Guidance for Pregnant Women
• HIFN's Factsheet on the use of Covid-19 vaccinations in pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Baby Friendly UK's Covid-19 resources and guidance
• GPIFN's resources for Covid-19, Vaccination & Infant Feeding
• The Breastfeeding Network's Drugs in Breastmilk Information Service's Statement on Covid-19 Vaccines while breastfeeding

Last updated September 2021