Breastfeeding
Infant Feeding
This hospital supports breastfeeding as the healthiest way for you to feed your baby, and you will be given encouragement to do so.
However, we will support and help you in whatever method you choose to feed your baby.
As a Trust we are currently working towards attaining our UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Certificate.
This certificated recognises that Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed you baby, with many benefits for you and your baby.
We are committed to supporting this with a breastfeeding policy that encompasses the following from the Baby Friendly Initiative;
Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding
Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all healthcare staff.
2. Train all healthcare staff in the skills necessary to implement the breastfeeding policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding soon after birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they are separated from their babies.
6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breastmilk, unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming-in, allowing mothers and infants to remain together 24 hours a day.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
9. Give no artificial teats or dummies to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge from the hospital or clinic.
When a mother is between 28 and 34 weeks into her pregnancy a Community Midwife will take to opportunity to discuss the Health benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and her baby as outlined below.
Benefits for the baby
Reduced risk of gastro-enteritis, diarrhoea, urinary tract, chest and ear infections, obesity and diabetes also a reduced risk of developing allergies if you have a family history.
Latest evidence suggests reduced risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and childhood leukaemia.
Benefits for the mother
Reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.
Breastfeeding mothers do not need to eat any special foods but it is recommended that, just like everyone else, they follow a healthy diet.
During this discussion mothers will be given a copy of 'From bump to breastfeeding' DVD.
All your baby needs
No other food or drink needed for 6 months (for maximum health benefits).
Breastmilk contains all the food and water your baby needs.
Giving other food or drink could be harmful and may also make him less interested in breastfeeding.
Colostrum - the milk you will produce in the first few days - is full of antibodies to protect your baby against infections. You will produce the right amount to meet your baby's needs.
The community and hospital midwifes will also discuss getting off to a good start following the babies delivery this includes;
Importance of early skin-to-skin contact
No matter how you choose to feed your baby, spending some time quietly holding him in skin-to-skin contact straight after the birth is very important because it helps to calm your baby and keeps him warm, steadies your baby's breathing gives you time to bond with your baby.
It also helps get breastfeeding off to a good start.
Provided you and your baby are both well, you will be able to hold him straight away. Usually, the midwife will dry him quickly and then give him to you.
A blanket over both of you will help keep your baby warm.
If you have a Caesarean delivery, or if you have to be separated from your baby for a while after the delivery, you will both still benefit from skin contact as soon as you are able.
Effective positioning and attachment (to ensure adequate milk intake and pain-free feeding)
Your midwife will show you how to hold your baby for feeding and how to make sure that he attaches properly to the breast.
This is very important as it will help you both to breastfeed successfully - most of the problems experienced by breastfeeding mothers in the first few weeks (sore nipples, for example) happen because the baby is not attached to the breast in the best way.
Baby-led feeding and feeding cues (to ensure adequate milk intake and supply)
It is important to feed your baby whenever he seems hungry.
This will make sure you produce plenty of milk to meet his needs. That's because each time he feeds, messages are sent to your brain, which then sends signals to your breast to produce more milk.
More feeding = More signals = More milk
Effect of teats, dummies, nipple shields (may interfere with breastfeeding)
Sucking on a teat (or a dummy) may make it more difficult for him to latch on to your breast properly and you may produce less milk for future feeds.
Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby.
It is possible, but difficult, for mothers to reverse a decision not to breastfeed or to re-start breastfeeding once you have stopped. Introducing partial bottle feeding will reduce a mother's breastmilk supply.
Rooming-in / keeping baby near (for baby-led feeding and reduction of risk of SIDS)
In hospital, your baby will sleep next to you.
That way you will get to know him well and will quickly know when he needs feeding.
This is especially important at night when you can feed him as soon as he's ready without either of you being disturbed too much.
We ensure all postnatal mothers receive information to use in hospital and to take home following discharge.
Your midwife or health visitor will be able to help if you need any more information
about feeding your baby.
She can also give you the telephone number of your local trained breastfeeding counsellors and baby Cafes.
Alternatively, their national offices can give you this information:
National Childbirth Trust, Alexandra House, Oldham Terrace, London W3. 0870 444 8708.
Breastfeeding Network, PO Box 11126, Paisley PA2 8YB. 0870 900 8787.
La Leche League, BM 3424, London WC1N 3XX. Tel: 020 7242 1278.
