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BREASTFEEDING EDUCATION

The Best Start for your baby

Now is the time to get the facts so you can make a decision on how to feed your baby

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Breastfeeding is best for baby Ideal nutrition to help baby grow Less ear infections and

respiratory infections Less gastrointestinal infections

and diarrhea Less Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

(SIDS) Less childhood obesity which means

less chance of diabetes and other illnesses later in life

Less allergies Higher IQ Formula provides NO protection

against infection or illness 12/10/13

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Breastfeeding has benefits for mom, too

Less ovarian and breast cancer Get back to pre-pregnancy weight

quicker Easier

No bottles and nipples No formula to prepare

Saves money Breastfeeding is free! WIC only covers part of formula cost Breastfeeding mothers get larger

food packages from WIC than mothers who are formula feeding

Breastfeeding hormones help mothers feel calm

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Skin-to-skin

Should start in the delivery room and as often as possible during your hospital stay

For maximum benefit, first skin-to-skin in the delivery room will be at least 60 minutes

Baby is dressed in hat and diaper and is placed next to your bare chest

Most babies will breastfeed while skin-to-skin in the delivery room

ALL babies benefit from skin-to-skin Helps steady baby’s heartbeat and breathing Helps keep baby warm Helps calm baby Calms mom, too Improves bonding between you and your baby Gets breastfeeding off to a good start

After the first skin-to-skin in the delivery room, anyone can do skin-to-skin including dads

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We do skin-to-skin at TampaGeneral

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Wait! Hold off on that bath!

What is vernix? White protective material that is

present on a newborn’s skin at birth

Absorbs into baby’s skin in about 24 hrs

Vernix should NOT be washed off Benefits of vernix

Moisturizes skin – less cracking and peeling

Helps prevent infections Other benefits of not bathing

Baby stays warmer Blood sugars more stable Longer skin-to-skin More successful breastfeeding Less stressful for baby 12/10/13

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Rooming-in

Rooming-in is when your baby stays with you in your hospital room all the time

More chances to bond with your baby

More chances to learn how to care for your baby

More chances to practice breastfeeding

Recognize when your baby is hungry so you can feed them when they are hungry instead of on a strict schedule. This is called “on demand”

feeding 12/10/13

We encourage 24 hourrooming-in at Tampa General

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Feeding “on cue”

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Feeding cues are signs a baby shows when they are hungry Feeding “on cue” means feeding your baby when your

baby is hungry Feeding on cue prevents breastfeeding complications

and helps your milk come in Feeding on cue keeps baby happy Feeding cues are:

Moving hands to mouth Rooting (heads moves from side to side with mouth open) Sticking out tongue and mouth movements Crying is a late sign – it’s better to feed before baby starts crying

Pacifiers cover up feeding cues. Your baby prefers you over a pacifier!

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A good latch

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A good latch is important Ensures you make enough milk Ensures baby gets enough breast milk Prevents sore nipples

How to get a good latch1. Hold baby close with tummy and face facing you 2. Use one hand to support your breast and the other to

support baby’s head. Tilt baby’s head back slightly.3. Tickle baby’s upper lip with nipple4. When mouth opens wide, bring baby to breast chin first5. Lips should be flared out and chin should be pressed

against your breast

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Breastfeeding Positions Why it’s important:

Helps with good latch Prevents sore nipples Helps you make enough milk and

helps baby get enough milk Tips to get started:

Get comfortable Use pillows to bring baby up to chest level Baby’s ear, hip, and shoulder should be in a

straight line Bring baby to you. Don’t bend forward

Side-lying Lie on your side and place the baby on her

side facing you This is a great position after a C-section

Cradle hold Your forearm supports the baby’s back and

your hand supports the baby’s bottom. Hand opposite the breast baby is nursing

can support the breast

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Side-lying

Cradle hold

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Breastfeeding Positions

Cross cradle Hold baby across your lap using the

arm opposite the breast the baby is nursing on to support baby. Use the hand on the same side to support your breast.

Works well for small babies or when baby is having a hard time latching on

Football hold Tuck baby under the arm of the side

you are nursing on. Baby’s feet are facing your back and support the head as you bring baby to your breast.

Works well for C-sections and if you have large breasts 12/10/13

Football hold

Cross cradle

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Breastfeeding in the hospital

How often should I breastfeed? When baby show signs of

hunger Your baby can breastfeed as

often as he wants, but at least 8 -12 times in 24hrs which could be every 1-3 hours

You may need to wake baby up for feedings if he doesn’t feed at least 8 times in 24 hours

How long should he nurse? Let him feed as long as he is

actively sucking and swallowing

Why exclusive breastfeeding in the hospital? Baby gets all the good

colostrum Giving a bottle may

make it hard for baby to breastfeed correctly and baby may be less interested in breastfeeding

Helps your milk come in better

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How do I know my baby is getting enough breast milk at first?

He feeds 8-12 times in 24 hours with a good latch

You can hear him swallowing during feeds

He has 1-2 loose stools and at least 1-2 wet diapers per day in the hospital

Seems calm and satisfied between feeds

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His stomach is very small at first Cherry – day 1 Walnut – day 2 Ping pong ball – day 3

The amount of colostrum (first milk) you make is the perfect amount for his small stomach

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Breastfeeding for 6 months

The more breast milk your baby gets, the more they benefit – less infections and illness

Your baby may be less interested in breastfeeding if you give them formula, water or other types of food

Breast milk is all the nutrition your baby needs for 6 months

When you breastfeed less often, your breast milk supply will decrease

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for 6 months and longer if you want

WIC provides electric breast pumps for mothers who are exclusively breastfeeding

Insurance companies help with breast pump purchase also

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Breastfeeding after 6 months You can still continue

breastfeeding after 6 months when your baby starts to eat other food

Breast milk still contains important nutrition and helps fight infection

It is up to you and your baby to decide when to stop breastfeeding

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How we can help

You will have plenty of help at Tampa General if you have questions about breastfeeding

All nurses and doctors working in Prenatal Care offices, Labor & Delivery, Postpartum, and Nursery have had special training to help mothers breastfeed

Tampa General also has nurses with extra training called lactation consultants

The staff at Tampa General will be supportive of your choice on how you want to feed your baby

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