Scores attended a mums' meeting at Herrington Country Park with midwives, health care assistants and health visitors to encourage pregnant women to consider the natural alternative.
The women all attend Sunderland's Bosom Buddies support group, which gives mums advice to help them feed their babies themselves for longer.
It's proving to be a valuable tool in combating Wearside's low breastfeeding rate.
Although the rate is rising slowly – and now stands at 42 per cent – it remains lower than the national average of 62 per cent.
And it falls to around 20 per cent by the time the baby is six weeks old.
According to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, peer support is one of the most effective ways of helping new mums to succeed in breastfeeding.
Julie Hemmer, health co-ordinator for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust and the breastfeeding lead for children's centres, explained how Bosom Buddies is helping mums and babies.
She said: "Many mums give breastfeeding a try but if they have any problems they often don't have a support network around them to help them overcome them.
"Bosom Buddies groups are all about experienced breastfeeding mums providing support to help others to breastfeed.
"I would encourage anyone who is planning a family or who has just had a baby and is looking for advice and support with breastfeeding to come along and meet the Bosom Buddies."

l Information about breastfeeding, and Bosom Buddies in Sunderland, which is co-ordinated by Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust staff and meets in Sunderland Children's Centres, is available through the Children's Information Service on 520 5505.

Louise McQuillan and Cerys
CRADLING baby Cerys in her arms, mum Louise McQuillan knows she is giving her daughter the best possible start in life.
The 35-year-old has been breastfeeding Cerys since she was born seven months ago and says the benefits are priceless.
"Breastfeeding can create a very strong bond that carries on right into adult life.
"Whenever she is upset or distressed I can soothe her very quickly and for mums it releases a chemical that can relax and calm, so if you are prone to post-natal depression it can help with that."
Louise, who is on maternity leave from her job as a therapy radiographer, also breastfed son Joseph, now five, and daughter Megan, two.
She said: "I only breastfed Joseph for the first four months, and then got involved in the support group. I breastfed Megan for a year and think that if I had the same support with my son as I had with her, I would have breast fed him for longer.
"We recently had illness in the house and I noticed that it affected Joe more than the others. I want to keep breastfeeding Cerys because when she goes to day-care she will become exposed to all sorts and I want to give her that added immunity."
But the benefits of breast stretch beyond health, and Louise says that, far from being an inconvenience, she prefers it to bottle feeding.
Louise, who lives with husband Harry at Hastings Hill, said: "The perception of breastfeeding seems to be that it can be painful and awkward but I have always found it simpler than bottle feeding.
"Anywhere I am I know that I have got food for Cerys that is at the right temperature and is exactly what she needs."



Anita McCluskey and Corin
MUM Anita McCluskey is following in family footsteps by choosing to breastfeed baby son Corin.
"My mum had six kids and breastfed all of us. I thought if it was good enough for us it is good enough for my children," says the 39-year-old Thorney Close mum.
Anita, who is also mum to Laverne, 23, says that sometimes members of the public react unnecessarily to breastfeeding. She explained: "Me and a friend were in a restaurant recently and we got a couple of looks,.
"But it is the most natural thing in the world and if people want to make it lewd that is their problem."
Anita, who is married to Ian, said: "The first couple of weeks can be hard, but it gets much easier and it's convenient, you don't have to deal with stacks of bottles."

Support of a star
SINGER Charlotte Church is urging young mums to follow her example and breastfeed.
The 22-year-old star, who gave birth to daughter Ruby eight months ago is lending her support to Breastfeeding Awareness Week to try and encourage mums in their teens and early 20s to take it up.
The Voice Of An Angel diva said: "Feeding Ruby myself has been such a positive experience and I would definitely recommend it.
"It was really reassuring knowing Ruby had extra protection from chest, ear and stomach infections, as well as from diabetes and allergies.
"On top of that breastfeeding is free and really convenient, especially in the middle of the night."