Welcome to motherhood. Here is your guide to feeding your baby.
If you're ever concerned that your baby may not be feeding well, it's important to speak with your community midwife, health visitor or the infant feeding team. They’re there to support you and can help assess and guide feeding.
Advice on breastfeeding
Advice on formula feeding
Infant feeding support
It is recommended by the World Health Organisation that your baby is exclusively breastfed for the first six months. Following this, breastmilk alongside foods is recommended until they are two years and over.
Getting the basics right is so important when breastfeeding. If you can get both positioning and attachment correct you will be well on your way to a successful feed. It is also useful for your partner to also know what to look out for. Have a look at the checklist below.
Positioning:
- Skin-to-skin is always a great way to feed your baby
- Ensure your baby’s head and body are straight
- Your baby should be able to move their head back if they need to
- You should be comfortable
- When positioning your baby their nose should be at your nipple
Attachment:
- Your baby needs a wide mouth to attach to the breast
- When attached you will notice his/her cheeks are rounded
- There will be more areola visible above your baby’s mouth than below
- The sucking pattern will start with initial sucks and these will slow to deeper sucks with pauses
- When your baby is attached it may feel initially slightly sore, however this should settle. If it does continue then put your little finger into the side of their mouth to take them off the breast and start the process again.
Watch this helpful visual guide from Unicef UK Baby Friendly Initiative on positioning and attachment.
Watch your baby not the clock! It is important to follow your baby’s cues when they want to feed. Sadly, they can’t talk to communicate this to us, instead they use these handy cues to let us know. Have you noticed your baby doing these?
- Facial movements
- Mouth opening
- Stretching
- Rooting or sucking fingers
- Turning head
- Crying is a late sign of hunger
It is important to also remember that we would expect eight to ten feeds within a 24 hour period.
When formula feeding your baby there are a number of things you need to know.
Your new-born's immune system is not as strong as yours. Therefore, sterilising all feeding equipment is essential in order to stop your baby getting infections or stomach upsets. There are also a number of methods to sterilise equipment; these include sterilising by boiling, steam sterilising and cold water sterilising. It is personal preference how you wish to sterilise your baby's bottles.
Preparing feeds safely is also very important. Feeds should be freshly made when they are needed. Unused bottles of formula should be discarded after 2 hours if they have been kept at room temperature.
Follow the link below to find all the information you need about sterilising and preparing feeds.
During the first two to three days after birth, your body produces small amounts of colostrum. Because of this, hand expressing is often more effective than using a pump.
Hand expression can be especially helpful in the following situations:
- To encourage your baby to feed by offering a small amount of milk.
- When your breasts feel full and you're finding it difficult to get your baby latched.
- If you notice a blocked duct and want to relieve it.
- If you're separated from your baby, such as when they are in the neonatal unit.
Understanding the guidelines on safe sleeping is important. As a parent ensuring you are following the guidelines below will help you to relax also.
Things you can do:
- Always place your baby on their back to sleep
- Keep your baby in smoke free home during pregnancy and after birth
- Place your baby to sleep in a separate cot or moses basket
- Make sure they are in the same room as you for the first six months
- Breastfeed your baby
- Use a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in good condition
Things to avoid:
- Never sleep on a sofa or in an armchair with your baby
- Do not sleep in the same bed as your baby if you smoke, drink or take drugs or are extremely tired, if your baby was born prematurely or was of low birth weight.
- Avoid letting your baby get too hot
- Don’t cover your baby’s face or head whilst sleeping
- Avoid loose bedding.
This video summarises the safe sleep guidelines. The lullaby trust website goes into more detail with useful information on car seats, mattresses, the use of dummies and swaddles.
"I haven’t got enough milk" "I can’t tell how much he’s having". These are often the feelings of a breastfeeding mother. However, although you cannot see the volume of a feed when breastfeeding there are a number of other ways to know that your baby is getting enough milk. Read through the steps below to guide you.
- 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
- Your nipples aren’t sore and haven’t changed shape following a feed.
The following list goes into more detail and is a useful checklist to knowing you’re doing well.
We are here for you, if you are ever unsure about whether feeding is going well it is important to contact your midwife or health visitor. There are also other ways you can get information and support, here are some useful links.
Antenatal education hub for Suffolk and North East Essex
National Childbirth Trust breastfeeding helpline - 0300 330 0771.
National breastfeeding helpline - 0300 100 0212
La Leche League - 08451202918
Suffolk and North East Essex infant feeding padlet interactive resource
Health visitor support
For breastfeeding support with your health visitor team please follow the below link: