Breastfeeding guide
There are many outdated perceptions and myths around Down syndrome, one being that ‘babies with Down syndrome can’t breastfeed’.
We share this guide to give you and your baby the best chance possible to breastfeed successfully. We want to not only educate and empower new and expectant mums, but also the medical professionals who are supporting within the community.
We hope this guide will provide you with all the information you need to enjoy a successful breastfeeding relationship with your baby.
Breastfeeding Peer Support
PADS has a Breastfeeding Supporter – Sarah Ojar – who has extensive experience and knowledge around breastfeeding. Sarah has been a breastfeeding peer supporter with the Breastfeeding network since 2016 and has been volunteering on the National Breastfeeding Helpline since 2021.
We are proud to collaborate with the Breastfeeding network to train their volunteers around breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome. Sarah also delivers training to any infant feeding specialists and other interested medical professionals.
The Lived Experience - NG Tube Feeding Stories
As part of our ‘Lived Experience’ booklet series, we’ve created a resource on NG tube feeding that offers reassurance, practical guidance, and real parent stories to support families of babies with Down syndrome who may need tube feeding.
Breastfeeding Research
Through our pregnancy, new parents and breastfeeding online community, we were aware that there is a lack of accurate information and support around breastfeeding a baby with Down syndrome, and so in 2021 we conducted research and published the findings in our Breastfeeding Report. We extended the research and published our second Breastfeeding Report in 2022 and the third 2025 Breastfeeding Report.
