A New Beginning

BREASTFEEDING AND FORMULA SUPPLEMENTATION Formula supplementation in the hospital should only be given to breastfeeding infants when medically necessary. Giving any formula to a breastfeeding newborn can have disadvantages: • Less frequent feeding at the mother’s breast may lead to decreased milk supply. • Formula digests more slowly than breast milk, so your baby may not feed as often in the hospital. Frequent feedings help build a plentiful milk supply. • Fewer opportunities to get help with breastfeeding while there is assistance available during your hospital stay.

Expressing Breast Milk

HAND EXPRESSION Why is hand expression important? • Helps reassure that you have breast milk • Helps promote latch and increase milk volume • May be used to spoon-feed a fretful baby • Great companion skill to pumping breast milk HOW TO HAND EXPRESS • Wide, C-shaped hand placement on the breast • Press in towards the chest wall • Compress the breast • Release

Expressing breast milk can be done by hand or with a breast pump. A breastfeeding mother may choose or need to express milk for a number of reasons: • When returning to work • To collect breast milk for a premature baby • If your baby is temporarily unable to feed • If you are ill and unable to nurse

• To provide a supply of milk if you are away • To relieve engorgement and soften areola prior to latch • If your baby requires supplementation • To increase milk supply

Hand motion should not rub or chafe the skin. Fingers shouldn’t move on the skin. With repeated practice, you will see more and more breast milk.

When you skip a feeding or if you are not breastfeeding regularly, messages are sent within the body to slow down or stop milk production. If you are separated from your baby, whether at work or for other reasons, double pump for 15 minutes as close to the baby’s typical feeding pattern as possible. Be sure your caregiver knows when you will be returning so your baby will be ready to breastfeed then.

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A New Beginning