Pregnancy Through Birth

Guide to Successful Breastfeeding

1st Trimester

Guide to Successful Breastfeeding: Common Questions

Common Questions: Did You Know…

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Helps protect baby from: Asthma Allergies Childhood obesity Diabetes Diarrhea Ear infections Lung infections Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

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Helps protect mom from: Breast cancer Diabetes Ovarian cancer Post partum depression

Common Questions: Did You Know… • Breast milk is best for your baby.

• Breast milk is FREE, always fresh, and ready to feed. • Your breast milk helps your baby fight infections. • Breast milk changes as your baby develops. It gives your baby everything that is needed at every stage of growth.

Common Questions: Did You Know… • The milk that you make in the first days is called colostrum. It is yellow in color and high in nutrition. • After 3 to 5 days, your milk will change to a bluish-white color. Your body will also begin to make more milk. • Babies should only have breast milk for the first 6 months of life. After 6 months, babies begin other foods in addition to breast milk.

• Unicef and the World Health Organization recommend only breastfeeding for the first 6 months and to continue for 12 months or as long as mom and child are comfortable.

Common Questions: Did You Know… • Are formula and breast milk the same? o No. Breast milk has a special combination of vitamins, antibodies, and other nutrients that are not found in formula. Unlike formula, breast milk changes as your baby grows, so it has exactly what your baby needs at each feeding. o Formula does not provide the same protection. Breast milk is so important that there are milk banks in the United States. They provide breast milk for babies who have special medical needs. Our hospital uses milk from the Milk Bank of North Texas located in Fort Worth, Texas.

• Can I breastfeed and formula feed? o Doctors recommend feeding your baby only breast milk (exclusive breastfeeding) for the 1st 6 months for a healthier mother and baby. Feeding you baby formula early on can actually delay/decrease breast milk production.

Common Questions: Did You Know… • What if I want or need someone else to help feed my baby? o Once our baby gets used to nursing, and your milk supply is well established, you can pump your milk so that others can give it to your baby in a bottle. Pumping and storing milk for later use gives you options for others to help feed baby. This is not recommended until baby is 2 to 3 weeks old. o Premature babies often start with pumped breast milk and learn how to nurse at the breast as they get ready to leave the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).

• Where can I find more information? o www.breastmilkcounts.com or 1-855-550-6667.

Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes To register for a class call:

1-877-THR-WELL

Free, On-line Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes To log in, go to our website: www.texashealth.org/ebreastfeeding Code: THRBABY

2st Trimester

Guide to Successful Breastfeeding: What to Expect in the Hospital

What to Expect in the Hospital: Skin to Skin Contact •

Studies show that it is important for babies to be placed on their mother’s chest as soon as possible after birth. This is called skin to skin contact, and helps with baby’s temperature, blood sugar, heart rate, and breathing. Babies also cry less and do better with breastfeeding.

• Your baby will remain on your chest for the first hour of life, or until the 1st breastfeeding is completed. • We encourage this time immediately after delivery to be a time spent privately with your baby. This is a very important time for bonding.

• Studies show it is better to wait longer before giving a baby their first bath. • When your baby is not breast feeding, we still encourage skin to skin contact.

What to Expect in the Hospital: Newborn Behavior • Your baby should breastfeed 8 or more times in 24 hours. • If your baby falls asleep during the first few minutes of feeding, gently wake them to complete the feeding. • Your baby should eat on demand, and not according to the clock. Watch for feeding cues. See the next page for more details. • We will not provide bottles or pacifiers. These can lessen your milk supply.

What to Expect in the Hospital: Feeding on Demand •

Feeding on demand means feeding your baby whenever they show feeding cues

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Babies show they are hungry by: – – – – –

Putting hands to face and/or mouth Sucking fingers Making mouth movements Turning head Crying is a late hunger sign

• How often to feed your baby: – –

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Feed your baby as often and as long they want to eat Feed or remove breast milk 8 or more times in 24 hours

Avoid Bottles and Pacifiers in the First Few Weeks! The way baby sucks on a bottle and/or pacifier is very different from how a baby sucks on the breast. You can introduce a pacifier at 1 month of age when baby is going to sleep.

Ask for help if you are feeling discomfort when breastfeeding.

What to Expect in the Hospital: Rooming In • Babies sleep more when kept in your room. Your baby will be rooming in with you during your entire hospital stay. Routine procedures will be done in your room. •

Rooming in helps with: o Bonding: You learn your baby’s behaviors and feeding cues. This builds your confidence. o Sleep: Studies show that moms actually rest better with baby close by. Babies have less crying and separation anxiety when with mom. o Health: Babies breastfeed more often when the are close to mom. More breast milk is more protection for baby.

What to Expect in the Hospital: Planning Ahead • Schedule a tour of the hospital. This is a great time to ask questions. • Find a doctor for you baby before giving birth.

• Teach your family and friends about what to expect. It is important for them to understand that you and baby will need time alone in the first hour after birth for breastfeeding and for skin to skin contact. • Plan now for someone to help you while you are in the hospital and during your first days at home.

Free, Hospital Tour Information To reserve your spot, call: 1-877-THR-WELL or www.texashealth.org

Every Saturday at 10:00 am Meet in the Labor and Delivery (L&D) Waiting Room on the 4th floor

3rd

Trimester

Guide to Successful Breastfeeding: What to Expect at Home

What to Expect at Home: Getting Off to a Great Start • Continue breastfeeding your baby on demand. • As you and your baby get more used to breastfeeding, you will find your favorite positions. Common breastfeeding positions are: – Cuddle or Cradle Hold – Football Hold – Side-Lying Position – Cross-Cradle Hold – Baby-Led Latch (Biological Nursing)

What to Expect at Home: Getting Off to a Great Start • It is important to care for your body. Check your breasts daily. If you see red areas, rashes, or anything else that looks unusual, call your lactation consultant or your doctor. Also call if you have pain or if you feel ill. • Avoid putting soap on your nipples or scrubbing them, as this can make them dry and more likely to crack. – –

Lanolin: 100% pure lanolin provides soothing relief and protection for sore nipples. Hydrogel pads: Eases severe nipple pain and promotes healing to damaged nipples. • These products may not help if baby is not latching correctly. Be sure to ask for help if baby needs help with latch.

• If your nipples are tender, you may find it helpful to put a little breast milk on the nipple and let it air dry at the end of each feeding. Breastfeeding should not be painful. If you feel pain, your baby may not be latching well. Be sure to ask for help. • Use breast pads in your bra to absorb any milk that might leak. Change your pads often, especially when moist or wet.

What to Expect at Home: Breastfeeding Support • Reach out to family and friends who have been successful with breastfeeding. • Have someone help you during your first days at home. • Call the Lactation Department at Texas Health Alliance at 682212-3483 if you have any questions. – Make an appointment with an Outpatient Lactation Consultant if you would like to meet with someone directly. – Join our Breastfeeding Support Group. You are able to weigh your baby before and after their feeding to show you how much your baby was able to eat.

What to Expect at Home: Breastfeeding Support • Hand expression is a very useful tool. It can help to establish milk supply, provide colostrum to a sleepy or premature baby, and ease engorgement. – Watch Stanford University video on hand expression: http://newborns.standfor.edu/Breastfeeding/HandExpr ession.html • Dr. Jack Newman has some very helpful videos on latching and breastfeeding – http://www.breastfeedinginc.ca

What to Expect at Home: Breastfeeding Support • Join community groups such as WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), La Leche League International, or Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition to meet other mothers. • WIC is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, breastfeeding moms, and children up to age 5. https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wichd/ or 1-800-9423678.

• La Leche League International is a group that provides breastfeeding education and support to mothers and their babies. http://www.lalecheleague.org/ • Tarrant County Breastfeeding Coalition is a group that helps breastfeeding moms with resources and direct peer support. http://www.tarrantbfcoalition.com/

Guide to Successful Breastfeeding References • American Academy of Pediatrics • http://www.breastmilkcounts.com/ • http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_breastfeeding.ht ml • A New Beginning: Your Personal Guide to Newborn and Postpartum Care. Dianne E. Moran, RN, LCCE, ICD and Byron Kallam, MD, FACOG. Customized Communications, Incorporated, 3/2015.