Breast, bottle and baby feeding
However you choose to feed your baby, we have the advice and support set out below to help.
Bonding during Pregnancy
Bonding with your baby during pregnancy will help you develop a relationship early on. From around 23 weeks your baby will begin to hear sounds from inside the womb, such as your heartbeat and voice. Familiar sounds and being able to recognise your voice before birth can assist with bonding. There are many ways to communicate with your baby during pregnancy, you could talk to your baby, sing, and even play music. Touching and comforting you bump could be reassuring for you growing baby and help them feel safe and secure, you could gently massage your tummy. You will notice that your baby may respond to communication with movements and kicks.
https://www.unicef.org.uk/babyfriendly/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2018/04/happybaby_leaflet_web.pdf
https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/baby-basics/bonding-with-your-baby/
Welcome to the world
Congratulations of the birth of your Baby. Birth brings a whole new range of feelings and emotions, from Happiness, excitement
guilt, exhaustion and worry. Knowing what is expected in those first few weeks and days of birth can make challenges seem less daunting. We have put some short videos and information together to help you along your feeding journey.
https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/breastfeeding-in-the-first-hours-after-birth/
First and early feeding
Colostrum
Colostrum
In the first hours and in the early days after birth a liquid is produced from the Breast called colostrum this can vary in colour from clear, yellow and white. This is often referred to as liquid gold, Colostrum is all your baby needs in the first few hours and days of life. Production at first is very minimal around a teaspoon per feed, although the volume can be small colostrum is packed with nutrients, antioxidants protein, minerals, vitamins and immunoglobulins (antibodies) making it perfect for your baby whose tummy at birth is around the size of a cherry. Colostrum increases around day three/four when your milk supply will usually maximise please be mindful this can vary from person to person.
Colostrum is not just food it is tailor made for your baby containing Anti-viral properties to protects your baby against infection and hormones to prime and protect the gut.
If you baby is reluctant to feed in the early days you can hand express colostrum this can help increase and maintain your milk supply. Regular skin to skin is recommended to stimulate feeding behaviour and helps calm and relax Mum and Baby as well as regulating baby's temperature.
If for any reason your Baby needs additional support with feeding, this can be due to prematurity, illness or the need for special care, you may benefit from expressing as early as possible to support your baby’s health, growth and needs as well as stimulating your milk production.
Colostrum can be given by a syringe or cup temporarily until effective feeding is established. This method of feeding needs to be monitored with support from a healthcare professional or the Infant Feeding Team.
You can start expressing your colostrum from 36 weeks in preparation for birth this can be useful to help to familiarise yourself with your changing body and increase awareness and confidence. ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR MIDWIFE FIRST
Harvesting colostrum can be particularly beneficial to mothers who are
Diabetic
Expected preterm delivery (planned C-Section)
Small babies
If your taking Beta blocker medications
Twin Pregnancies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0zVCwdJZw0
How does breastfeeding work
The benefits of breastfeeding
For Mother
- Lowers the risk of Breast and ovarian cancer
- Lowers the risk of Cardiovascular disease
- Lowers the risk of Osteoporosis
- (weak bones)
- Breastfeeding releases a hormone called Oxytocin this is often referred to as the love hormone this helps mum and baby build a strong bond, feel calm, happy and relaxed
For Baby
- Reduces risk of infection
- Reduces the risk of allergies and asthma
- Reduces the risk of (SIDS) Sudden infant death syndrome
- Reduces the risk of Cardiovascular disease
- Prevents obesity
- Prevents childhood diabetes and leukaemia
- Breastfeeding supports brain development (this happens at an incredible rate during the first month
Other
- Financial
- Environmental
- Emotional
Comforting and caring for your Baby
As you begin to know your baby you will form a relationship and have instinctive behaviour which will help you recognise their feelings and needs. Responding to your baby's needs will help them Feel safe and secure. Holding your baby close to you and looking into their eyes, singing talking and comforting your baby can all help achieve a close and loving relationship this is really important for your baby's brain development.
Your baby's needs are met immediately during pregnancy, they are not used to waiting, delaying responsiveness may lead to distress
How to Recognise early feeding cues
- Baby's tongue poking out
- More head movement, moving head and eyes side to side
- Becoming fidgety
- Hands waving and sucking fist
- Making murmuring noises
Positioning and attachment
Formula and bottle feeding
Choosing how you feed your baby can be a difficult decision it is a very individual personal choice, should you choose to Formula feed, Express breastmilk and give via a bottle or combi feed there are resources and guidance available to support you.
https://www.firststepsnutrition.org/infant-milks-overview
https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/baby/feeding-your-baby/bottle-feeding/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hEq2QpQFT8
Is my baby getting enough milk?
Lots of parents can worry that their baby is not feeding enough or receiving adequate amounts. Below is a list of signs of effective feeding and a link of the UNICEF UK mothers breastfeeding checklist.
- Your baby detaches from the breast spontaneously.
- You notice wet and dirty nappies
- Each feed is between 5-40 minutes.
- Your baby is feeding 8-10 times within a 24-hour period.
- Your baby is settled after a feed.
- They also wake for the next feed.
- Feeding should not be painful
Safe sleeping
Research proves the Breastfeeding or partial breastfeeding for the first two months of your baby's life can lower the risk of sudden death syndrome
Two months of breast of particle feeding can lower the risk of SIDS by half. Breastfeeding for longer periods increase protection.
Sudden infant death syndrome is something that is rare. There are lots of resources and information available to ensure you keep the risk as low as possible. Please see attached link.
https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/
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