|
 |
|
 |
|
| |
| 10 Steps To Successful Breastfeeding |
- Make a commitment to breastfeed.
• Take a breastfeeding class
• Read about breastfeeding
• Talk to a friend who has successfully breastfed
• Shop for comfortable clothes for breast feeding
- Find a Pediatrician who is committed to breastfeeding.
• “Meet the Doctor” to ensure breast feeding views
• Ask your Pediatrician who will help you breastfeed in the hospital
- Explore lactation consultant resources at the hospital
• International Board Certified Lactation consultants (IBCLCs) are breastfeeding experts
• Some will meet with you before the birth of the baby
• IBCLCs are available in the hospital to help you breastfeed
• IBCLCs are invaluable as outpatient resources also
- Tell the nursery staff that you are a breastfeeding mom
• Avoid using pacifiers
• Avoid using artificial nipples and formula
• Avoid sugar water supplementation
- Breastfeed early and breastfeed often
• Babies are alert and ready to nurse within 1 hour after birth
• Breastfed babies eat every 1-3 hours
• "On demand" nursing means offering the breast whenever the baby appears hungry
- “Room in” with the baby
• Keep the baby with you as much as possible
• Make sure you nurse the baby every 1-3 hours
• Learn the baby's hunger cues (alertness, rooting, sucking motions etc)
• Crying is usually a late sign of hunger
• It is hard to get a frantic crying baby latched on at the breast
- Take care of yourself
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Eat a well balanced diet with about 500 extra calories
• Continue your prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding
• Rest while the baby sleeps
- Get help from your partner
• Your partner’s support and encouragement is crucial
• “Breastfeeding: What Dad can Do” is a helpful guide
- Be patient
• he first week is crucial for mom and baby
• It’s a learning experience for both
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help
- Early and regular follow up with your physician
• The Pediatrician will see the baby in the office 1-2 days after discharge
• Monitor number of wet and soiled diapers by baby's age in days to ensure baby is getting enough milk
• Monitoring the baby’s weight gain is also crucial
|
| |
| Breastfeeding in the First Hour after Birth: A Special Word of Advice |
- Babies are alert and their senses primed to breastfeed right after birth.
- Babies use their eyes to memorize their mothers' faces, their ears to associate her voice with her face, and their sense of smell to guide them in finding the breast.
- When mothers hold their babies skin-to-skin immediately after birth, their babies are kept warm, they regulate their heart, respiratory, and oxygen saturation rates and they do not feel pain as acutely. Babies who have this experience cry less, and are calmer.
- It is safe to delay the application of eye ointment, Vitamin K injection and Hepatitis B vaccine for 1 hour after birth, giving mom and baby time to bond and breastfeed.
- When breastfeeding is initiated in the first hour, moms have less postpartum bleeding and are more likely to breastfeed for longer periods.
- “Welcome baby softly” by savoring this special bonding.
|
| Breastfeeding is not for every mother and child. There are circumstances when parents choose to formula feed. This may be the result of previous difficulties with breastfeeding, potential hurdles faced by working mothers, or physical barriers such as health conditions or breast surgery. Infants who are premature or needing special care in the newborn period may be unable to breastfeed immediately after birth. Formula feeding may also simply be a personal choice. |
| |
| Whatever a parent's decision may be regarding feeding their baby, they will receive unconditional support and help from Dr. Sudha, Neva Schwartz and Paulie Gatchell. |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
|