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 12/10/13

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

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 12/10/13

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 We do skin-to-skin at Tampa General 12/10/13

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

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 We encourage 24 hour rooming-in at Tampa General 12/10/13

Feeding “on cue” 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! 12/10/13

A good latch A good latch is important How to get a good latch Ensures you make enough milk Ensures baby gets enough breast milk Prevents sore nipples How to get a good latch Hold baby close with tummy and face facing you Use one hand to support your breast and the other to support baby’s head. Tilt baby’s head back slightly. Tickle baby’s upper lip with nipple When mouth opens wide, bring baby to breast chin first Lips should be flared out and chin should be pressed against your breast 12/10/13

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 Side-lying Cradle hold 12/10/13

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 Cross cradle Football hold 12/10/13

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 12/10/13

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 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 12/10/13

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 12/10/13

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 12/10/13

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 12/10/13