Dads are being encouraged to support their partners in breastfeeding in a new campaign from a leading childbirth charity.

Sporting celebrities Jonathan Edwards and Prince Naseem are supporting the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) in its bid to tell fathers they have a role in encouraging and supporting mums to breastfeed.

Edwards, a father of two, said: "It is important that fathers support their partners while they are breastfeeding. When I could, I gave my wife a rest and fed my son, Sam, with milk she had expressed. It was a good bonding experience for me."

Nicola Hedges, chairman of the York branch of the NCT, said: "If people think that breastfeeding has nothing to do with fathers, they are wrong. Partners can really make a difference by giving mothers the emotional and practical support they need to begin, and continue, to breastfeed."

The NCT has launched the campaign today at the start of Breastfeeding Awareness Week.

The NCT encourages women to breastfeed claiming it is better for mum and baby. It believes breast milk protects babies against childhood illnesses such as chest and ear infections, diabetes and gastro-enteritis, while reducing the risk in women of pre-menopausal breast cancer, some forms of ovarian cancer and osteoporosis leading to hip fracture.

Here are the NCT's top ten tips for dads to help women breastfeed:

Say 'Yes'

Be sympathetic to initial discomfort

Find out about breastfeeding from midwives, health visitors or NCT feeding counsellors

Help her relax - encourage her to sit and take her time. Offer to look after the other kids

Bring her a cushion, a snack, a cup of tea or the phone

Accompany her in public places where she can feed until she is confident

Do not question how often the baby wants to feed

Do not believe the baby will sleep better, cry less or gain weight quicker if they are on formula milk

Remember you can bond with your baby through bathtime, play and nappy changing, not just through feeding.

Don't forget, your baby can not deal with solids until at least four months old or longer if it was born premature.

New mums can find out more about breastfeeding at the NCT's Bumps and Babes group. For more information call 01904 654154.