Breastfeeding in hospital

When you and/or your baby are in hospital, breastfeeding requires extra attention. If you experience problems with breastfeeding, ask for help in time. Most hospitals employ a lactation consultant who may be able to provide additional guidance. Sometimes you must actively ask for a lactation consultant.

CESAREAN

Ask for help with latching your baby after a cesarean section. Preferably within the first hour. The surgical wound can make the latching more difficult. In some cases, milk production may start later after a cesarean section. It is therefore extra important to start expressing early, in order to stimulate optimal milk production. The advice is to stimulate your breasts within six hours. This can be done by trying to latch your baby (no real drinking is necessary), expressing by hand or by stimulating your breasts with a pump.

PREMATURE

When a baby is born prematurely, the composition of breast milk is adjusted to the needs of the baby at that time. It then contains, among other things, extra proteins, specific substances for the maturation of the organs and antibodies. It is especially important for a premature baby to be breastfed. Start expressing as soon as possible after delivery so that your baby can benefit from your breast milk as soon as possible. This can be done with a breast pump as well as with your own hand. Skin-to-skin contact with your baby also benefits breastfeeding.

INCUBATOR

If your baby is in the hospital in the incubator ward and you and your baby are separated, it is important that you start pumping as soon as the situation allows. This should be done at the times when you would normally breastfeed your baby. This equates to about 8 times a day. If this is too stressful for you, try to express as often as possible. Expressing often and briefly has even more effect on milk production than less often and longer. Consequently, it is better to pump 10 times for 8 minutes than to express for 8 times for 10 minutes. In both cases you spend a total of the same amount of time pumping, but more often and shorter is more effective. This stimulates production better. Again, a double pump system is better.

GIVING EXPRESSED MILK

The expressed milk can be given to the baby with a teaspoon, with a cup (cup feeding) or a feeding syringe (finger feeding). The maternity nurse or nurse will teach you how to do this.