Practical tips

Many of these tips might seem pretty obvious but it is worth mentioning them – particularly to first-time mums.

· Firstly, pick a comfortable place to breastfeed – feeding may only take a few minutes but can also take 40 minutes or so

· Get them to spend a few moments getting prepared – a handy glass of water might be a good idea

· It is a good idea for mum to wear a front opening bra with breast pads. Stretchy tops and scarves are a good idea when being discrete.

· Before taking baby away from the breast, get mums to slide their little finger into the side of baby’s mouth. This breaks the suction and helps avoid sore nipples

· Breastfeeding can be tiring. If baby falls asleep, tell mum to have a rest too

· After a night-time feed, baby should be returned to the cot or Moses basket

It’s also a good idea to warn mums that this is not a good time to go on a diet – it will affect the milk that baby gets. If there are worries about weight, it is worth spending time discussing it.

Tell them that however busy they might be – don’t skip meals as they will get more hungry, more tired and more irritable.