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EDUCATION FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILY
Early skin-to-skin contact begins ideally at birth and involves placing the naked baby on the mother's chest, with his/her body covered by a warm blanket, and his/her head covered with a hat
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Early, uninterrupted skin to skin contact between mother and baby has been shown to benefit breastfeeding outcomes
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It is extremely beneficial if baby can be placed skin to skin as soon as possible after delivery to help regulate baby's temperature, normalize blood glucose levels, and initiate breastfeeding
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With baby being in the, "right place, at the right time," he/she can begin breastfeeding once hunger cues are displayed
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One of the best ways to encourage milk production and early breastfeeding is to use hand expression
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To hand express colostrum:
form a letter "C" with the thumb and fingers around the breast tissue, (not the nipple), press back toward the chest wall, compress the breast tissue between the thumb and fingers
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Hand expression can help to reassure mothers and their families that there is milk present, even in the first hour after delivery
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Hand expression will help to empty the breast and signal activation of the hormones responsible for milk production
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Hand expression just prior to latching-on can help entice a baby to latch
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Hand expression is more effective for milk collection than a breast pump the first days after delivery, when there is less volume to express
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Breastfed babies are encouraged to nurse 8-12 times a day; that's every 2-3 hours (or sometimes even more frequently)
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The reasoning behind this is that the baby's stomach can only hold 5-7mL per feeding
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The newborn's stomach will fill quickly, but also empty quickly; hence, the feeding frequency
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Allow baby to have unlimited access to the breasts
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Latch baby to the breast at the first signs of hunger; stirring/awakening from sleep, rooting/seeking, (turning head to side), and opening mouth
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Frequent feedings empty colostrum from the breast and will help to signal to the mother's body that it is now time to make more milk
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To prevent excessive weight loss and establish adequate milk supply, a newborn baby should not go longer than 3 hours between feedings (even if it requires waking the baby to eat)
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