It’s never too early to start thinking about how you are going to feed your baby. Breastfeeding gives your baby the best possible start in life as it has lots of benefits for both you and your baby that last a lifetime.
The Rotunda hospital promotes breastfeeding as the healthy way a woman can feed her baby. Research shows that breastfeeding can really help to start your baby off on the road to good health.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for infants and recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and thereafter infants should receive complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.
There is, however, more to breastfeeding than simply providing food. The very intimate relationship that develops between a breastfeeding mother and her baby can also help the behavioural and emotional development of the baby. During the antenatal period, the doctors and midwives will discuss breastfeeding with you and answer any questions you may have.
The Rotunda Hospital recommends breastfeeding because it is the best start in life for babies. We are accredited as a ‘baby friendly’ hospital, which means that we provide a high standard of care so that pregnant women and new mothers receive the support they need to breastfeed successfully.
However, we support choice for women and we will support mothers whatever decisions they make about how to feed their baby. It is not necessary to make this decision until after you have held your baby skin to skin after birth. We recommend that you take the time to discuss your options with your midwife or doctor.
You will hear lots of opinions and stories about other people’s feeding experiences. While much of the advice and information you get from friends and family will be very useful, some of it may confuse rather than guide you. We aim to give you the information that you need to help you decide what is best for you and your baby.
If your baby is born prematurely or is unwell then it will be vital that you provide breast milk for your baby. You will be advised and supported by the midwives on how to establish and maintain your milk supply.
Following the birth of your baby you will be given your baby to hold skin to skin for at least 60 minutes. This is a good time to offer the first breastfeed as your baby will be awake and alert after birth. We will show you how to recognise the early signs of your baby’s readiness to feed and we will give you any help you require. Skin to skin contact may continue during your transfer to the postnatal ward and it will not be interrupted for routine procedures.
Babies grow all the time. However, they do have growth spurts, which occur around three, eight and 12 weeks. At this time the baby feeds more often and this increases your milk supply. This usually lasts for about 24 – 48 hours and then the feeding pattern returns to normal.
You may want to express milk if:
You can express milk:
It is very important that you clean and sterilise all the equipment you use to feed your baby. Cleaning and sterilising remove harmful bacteria that could make your baby sick.
You can use your dishwasher to clean feeding equipment provided it is dishwasher proof. Dishwashers do not sterilise feeding equipment.