WHY YOU SHOULD PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE WHILE BREASTFEEDING

Breastfeeding can take a long time, so it only seems natural for mums to reach for their phones while they nurse their babies.

But is this safe? There are some who are worried about the radiation on the infants.

"This is an ongoing debate and the subject of countless studies," says Dr Natalie Epton, specialist paediatrician and neonatologist at International Paediatric Clinic.

Although these devices do give off radiation, it is “non-ionising” rather than “ionising” (one which is emitted by X-rays and known to be linked to cancer), she explains. And while many scientific bodies still quote a possible or potential risk of increased cancer, there’s no proof of such rates in any research to date.

Of note, large population studies have also failed to show any increased rates of brain tumours – the most likely type of cancer linked to mobile phone usage – in recent years, despite an exponential increase in the number of users and the intensity of usage.

But it is for a different concern that Dr Kateyune Kaeni, a psychologist specialising in maternal mental health, is encouraging mums to put down their phones.

A mum distracted by her phone could be ignoring important messages from her baby.

"When babies are first born their vision is only basically from the breast to the mothers face," Dr Kaeni says.

"That’s as far as they can see. So babies do a lot of staring and bonding in that way."

A mother "could be missing cues that they’re full or they’re still hungry or their latch isn’t secure or if they are having trouble swallowing," she adds.

Terry Bretscher, a nurse who works with Dr Kaeni, adds: “It is very hard to bond and talk to the baby if you are on the phone.”