Please enable javascript to have the best experience with this website Breast milk is the best nutrition you can give to your baby. Breast milk is your body’s way of producing the perfect food for your new baby It’s full of everything they need to grow and develop in a healthy way It has health benefits for mums too and helps create a strong bond between mums and their little ones. Up until 6 months of age breast milk is the only food a baby needs Along with its full range of nutrients, it also comes with a wide range of other health benefits. Breast milk is full of immune factors that help protect your baby early in life, as their immune system develops In the first few days after giving birth, new mothers produce a special kind of milk called colostrum This is particularly rich in the protective factors’ babies need for immune defence This makes it a really important time to be breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can help protect your baby against colds, tummy bugs, infections and allergies. Studies suggest that breastfeeding can have long-term benefits for a child’s cognitive development. As you regularly experience closeness and skin-to-skin contact with your baby through breastfeeding, you can both start to form a strong bond with each other. Breastfeeding is convenient and may save you time compared to formula feeding Consider the additional cost that formula may add to your family budget. What to do if you need help For some mums, breastfeeding can be challenging, and there are several reasons for that If you're having trouble, or you're just not sure how to do it properly, that's ok You can get help from your midwife, lactation consultant, doctor or Plunket nurse. For more information on breastfeeding, visit the Ministry of Health website > If you're considering introducing infant formula, we understand that is a tough decision and it's important to discuss this with your midwife, doctor or nurse first A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle-feeding, could reduce your supply of breast milk and be a difficult decision to reverse as well as be an added cost to your family budget If you do choose to use infant formula, always follow instructions for use carefully, as unnecessary or improper use may make your baby sick You can find more information here > Here you will find information on Anmum, parenting and our products. Breast milk is the best nutrition you can give to your baby It's full of everything a baby needs to grow and develop in a healthy way It's important that all mums, including breastfeeding mums, look after themselves too with a healthy balanced diet. However, breast feeding may not come easily to all mums We know new parents are on a journey, and we want to support this with science-based information, whilst not discouraging breast feeding. If you're considering introducing infant formula, we understand that is a really tough decision and it's important to discuss this with your midwife, doctor or nurse first A decision not to breastfeed, or to introduce partial bottle feeding, could reduce your supply of breast milk and be a difficult decision to reverse as well as an added cost to your family budget If you do choose to use infant formula, always follow instructions for use carefully, as unnecessary or improper use may make your baby sick. If you have read and understood the information in this important notice, please click "I understand". No thanks, visit Fonterra Co-operative website