As a new mum you have to make a lot of decisions about your baby’s care. Breastfeeding is what your body is expecting to do when your baby is born, and it's important for your baby as he or she continues to grow.

Breastfeeding your baby is an amazing achievement because every day that you breastfeed makes a difference to your baby’s health. There are also lots of benefits for you as a mum.

• Health benefits for your baby
• Health benefits for you

Did your friends and family breastfeed?
You might find that your friends, family or partner don’t know much about breastfeeding. Ask your nurse to put you in touch with a teenage pregnancy nurse and teenage support group, which will be able to share lots of ideas with you. They may also provide classes for grandparents and dads. In this way, your family can support you.

See Why breastfeed? and How dads can help for more information about breastfeeding that you could share with your family and friends.

Feeding when you're out and about
Breastfeeding is just like any other new skill – it takes a little bit of practice. Once you and your baby are good at breastfeeding, you’ll feel more confident about doing it wherever you are.

College or school
If you’re going back to school or college after having your baby, you may have questions about how to continue breastfeeding. Speak to your school or college before going back, and ask them what support is available. Can they provide somewhere private for you to sit and breastfeed or express your breast milk? Could you put expressed milk in a fridge on the premises?

You may find that there are facilities already available for students or teachers who breastfeed. Alternatively, you may be able to arrange to go to your baby at certain break times, so that you can breastfeed there or have the baby brought to you.