‘A new born baby has only three demands, warmth in the arms of its mother, food from her breasts and security in the knowledge of her presence’. Dr Grantly Dick-Read (1959).

A breastfeeding mother provides all three and wanting to breastfeed is instinctive, however, breastfeeding itself is not! Breastfeeding is a skill that mum and baby need to learn together. Traditionally this skill had been passed down through generations. Being the natural way to feed a baby there would always be someone around that was breastfeeding and mothers learnt through watching and through the guidance of family and friends.

We live in a culture in the UK where many of us live away from our families. To add to this formula is wrongly perceived as a normal feeding option and this has led to women becoming increasingly self conscious about breastfeeding and less trusting in their ability to nurture and sustain their babies independently. This adds to the difficulty that some mothers face when establishing breastfeeding.