Why breastfeeding is important

Breast milk is tailored to your baby’s needs, and breastfeeding offers several benefits for both mother and baby. Here you can read more about the advantages of breastfeeding and breast milk.

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Benefits of breastfeeding

The Danish Health Authority recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. There are many good reasons for this. Swipe to see all the benefits of breastfeeding.

How long is breastfeeding recommended?

The Danish Health Authority recommends exclusive breastfeeding until your baby is around 6 months old.

At around six months of age, your baby needs to begin weaning and gradually move on to family foods. However, it is beneficial if your baby continues to receive breast milk until at least 1 year of age.

Breast milk contains exactly the nutrients your baby needs, and breastfeeding offers many advantages for both mother and baby.

If breastfeeding is not possible or does not work for you, infant formula is a very good – and the only – alternative.

Breastfeeding protects your baby from infections

One of the most important benefits of breastfeeding is that your baby becomes less susceptible to infectious illnesses such as colds, ear infections, and stomach infections. Breast milk contains vital antibodies that help protect your baby.

Even before your milk “comes in,” your newborn receives significant benefits from colostrum, which is produced during pregnancy and in the first days after birth. Only small amounts are made, but colostrum contains exactly what a newborn needs and is rich in protective antibodies.

Infant formula contains all the nutrients a baby needs to grow and develop, and strict regulations govern its composition. Although formula is continually improved as we learn more about breast milk, it can never be an exact copy. One key difference is that formula does not contain living cells, which breast milk does. This is one reason why breastfeeding helps protect babies against infections.

 

Lower risk of illness for mothers

Breastfeeding also offers health benefits for you as the breastfeeding parent. It reduces the risk of developing breast cancer and diabetes, and the longer you breastfeed, the lower the risk.

Breast milk adapts to your baby

The composition of breast milk changes as your baby grows and its needs evolve. Until around 6 months of age, exclusively breastfed babies receive exactly the nutrition they require. This happens naturally when babies are allowed to decide how often and how long they feed.

All breastfeeding parents produce milk that contains the nutrients their baby needs. It is a myth that milk from some families is less nutritious. If your baby gains too little weight, it simply means it needs more milk and should feed more often. If you are concerned, speak with the staff at the maternity ward or your health visitor.

Breastfeeding is often easier

It can take time for breastfeeding to become established after birth, as both mother and baby need to learn. But once breastfeeding works well, it is often an easier way to feed your baby. There is no preparation required, no bottles to clean, and the milk is always available – even when you are on the go.

Breast milk reflects the family’s food

Breast milk contains flavour compounds from the foods you eat. When you breastfeed, your baby is introduced to different tastes right from birth. Studies show that breastfed babies often accept new flavours more easily when they begin eating other foods.

Is bottle-feeding better for the father or partner?

It is a myth that the father or partner can spend more time with the baby if it is bottle-fed. While fathers/partners cannot breastfeed, they can do everything else with the baby: skin-to-skin contact, changing nappies and clothes, playing, and providing comfort and care.

 

Read more about preparing for breastfeeding and the role of the father/partner

 

Can we combine breastfeeding and bottle-feeding?

Sometimes combining breastfeeding and bottle-feeding can be a good solution. Exclusive breastfeeding may not be possible, or you may prefer partial breastfeeding for other reasons. Your baby benefits from every drop of breast milk it receives. If supplementing with a bottle helps breastfeeding work better for your family, partial breastfeeding may be the best approach.

It is often possible to move from partial to exclusive breastfeeding if bottle supplements are only needed temporarily.

Talk to your health visitor for guidance tailored to your situation.

Good to do

  • Take time during pregnancy to consider how you would like your newborn to be fed
  • Learn about the many benefits of breastfeeding, while remembering that there may be valid reasons to choose bottle-feeding
  • Use your midwife or health visitor if you need to discuss your thoughts or choices.

Who can you contact?

If you experience challenges with breastfeeding – big or small – do not hesitate to seek professional advice. Swipe to see whom you can contact and when.

Who can you contact at the maternity ward?

You can contact the maternity-ward staff both during pregnancy and after birth.

Before birth, your midwife is the person to speak with about the early time with your baby and your thoughts about feeding – whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. If you have had previous breastfeeding problems, you can create a plan together.

Most maternity wards also offer antenatal classes, and your midwife can inform you about these.

After giving birth, you can receive help with breastfeeding from staff on the delivery or maternity ward while you are admitted.

All parents can also contact a breastfeeding hotline at their maternity ward within the first week after birth if they need help or guidance.

You can contact your municipal health-visitor service

The health-visitor service is available to all pregnant and new parents in Denmark. After birth, you will be offered free home visits with support and guidance to help you get a good start with your baby. Depending on your municipality and your stage in the process, different services and contact options may be available.

Some municipalities offer prenatal visits from a health visitor, where you can discuss breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and preparing for life as a new family. Check your municipality’s website to see whether this is available where you live.

If you have special needs, you can contact the service to ask whether prenatal visits are offered to you.

Your health visitor will contact you and offer the first home visit. You can always call your municipal health visitor service for advice or guidance.

You can contact your GP if needed

Always speak with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and need medical treatment. In most cases, there is a medication that is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Contact the on-call doctor or call 112 in an emergency

For sudden illness or worsening symptoms that cannot wait until your GP is available, or for minor injuries, you can contact the on-call doctor – or call 1813 if you live in the Capital Region.

In emergencies, if something is life-threatening or dangerous, call 112.

Contact volunteer breastfeeding counsellors

You can also contact volunteer breastfeeding counsellors if you need advice or support.There are two organisations in Denmark that offer this help: Forældre & Fødsel and Ammenet.The volunteers are mothers with breastfeeding experience, and both organisations follow the recommendations of the Danish Health Authority.

Get help from Forældre og Fødsel

Get help from Ammenet

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