Did you know that connecting with you bump can help to grow your baby’s brain and begins a responsive relationship?

Have you thought about how you could say hello to your baby?

  • Speak or sing to your baby
  • Touch your bump
  • Think about your baby
  • Give your bump a name
  • Your partner can do this too.

Read Building a happy baby: A Guide for Parents to find out about how building a strong relationship between parents and your new baby will give your baby the best possible start in life and will help them to grow up happy and confident.

A good baby is a perception held by our society that babies should act in a certain way. Some baby care books take advantage of this by suggesting parents should encourage babies in a strict routine for their feeding and sleep. This animation, ‘Why you might want to put the baby books down’ by Dr Amy Brown encourages new parents to put the books down and instead be more responsive to their baby’s needs.

Breastmilk is more than just milk, it provides warmth, comfort, protection, security and love

Breastfeeding reduces the risk, for the baby, of:

  • •Chest infections
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Ear infections
  • Urinary infections
  • Diabetes
  • Allergies
  • SIDS
  • Childhood cancers
  • Heart disease

Breastfeeding reduced the risk, for the mother, of:

  • Ovarian cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • •Osteoporosis

We know from research that this relationship building develops optimal health and growth and is the best start for you and your baby. All of our midwives, nursing associates, midwifery support workers and student midwives are trained to provide you with infant feeding support. We also have a dedicated Infant Feeding Team, skilled in all areas of infant feeding, available for anyone who requires more complex or targeted support.

At West Herts, we are proud to be part of the UNICEF baby friendly initiative1. This is a set of evidence-based standards to provide you with the best care possible in regard to feeding your baby. This care is based on the most up to date research and information. The care we provide will support you and your family with the information you need to build a close and loving relationships with your new baby.

We are currently working towards becoming a baby friendly hospital. To find out more: here about becoming a baby friendly hospital2.

View a breastfeeding video

Come and learn how to get breastfeeding off to a good start at our breastfeeding workshop. You will learn about some of the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby, and how your body works to make milk. Babies use feeding cues to let you know when they are hungry, and this guides you to feed your baby responsively.

The 90-minute session will help you to learn how to position your baby so that feeding is comfortable. The ideal time to attend a session is after you are 32 weeks pregnant.

You can book a place at a Watford Hospital Breastfeeding Workshop or at a Hemel Hempstead Hospital Breastfeeding Workshop.

Alternatively, you can book to join a Breastfeeding workshop online session.

The password for these events is 'breastfeeding'.

  • National breastfeeding helplines - 0300 100 0212 (9.30am to 9.30pm, daily)
  • Association of Breastfeeding Mothers - 0300 330 5453
  • La Leche League - 0345 120 2918
  • National Childbirth Trust (NCT) - 0300 330 0700
  • The Breastfeeding Network supporter line in Bengali and Sylheti - 0300 456 2421
  • Local support from the Hertfordshire Family Centre Service.
  • Information about donating breast milk