NURSING
MOTHERS, INC.
P.O.
Box 5462 Wilmington , Delaware 19808
Caregiver's Guide to the Breastfeeding Baby
Fact Sheet 26
WHY CONTINUE TO BREASTFEED?
A mother who chooses to nurse her child when returning to work is making a commitment to more than the nutritional needs of her baby. A nursing mother has been giving her baby something only she can give – her milk. This special bond between mother and baby is something the mother wants to continue even when she is separated from the child for part of day. As the caregiver, your support is a critical element in a mother’s ability and determination to sustain the breastfeeding relationship. Supporting a mother’s commitment to continue to nurse her child will also help the mother feel better about leaving her baby with you.
Some of the advantages of breast milk over infant formula are:
· Breast milk is a living substance, made just for the needs of humans. Infant formula is an artificial substitute -- even the most “new and improved” formulas are substantially unmatched to breast milk
· Breast milk is easily digested
· Breast milk contains antibodies which help to fight infections
·
For the breastfeeding mom, studies show that her
chances of breast, ovarian, cervical and
uterine cancers is significantly reduced, as is her risk of post-partum depression
The reasons mothers give for wanting to continue nursing their babies after retuning to work are as varied as the mothers themselves. Some of the most common reasons are:
· The mother just isn’t ready to give up something she cherishes
· She knows about the substantial nutritional and health benefits of nursing
· There is a family history of allergies and the mother knows that breast milk can help prevent or alleviate certain allergies
· She feels nursing makes her a special part of her baby’s life even when they are separated
· She feels she is giving her baby something only she can give
· The baby can not tolerate formula
There are many choices a mother can make when deciding how to feed her baby when they are separated. Some solutions are:
· To give the baby breast milk in a bottle
· By storing milk in the freezer before returning to work and pumping whenever possible to keep a steady.
· By pumping at work for the next day’s supply
· Or by doing a combination of both of the above
· To give formula when away from baby
· To return to the baby in the middle of the day to nurse
· Or to combine any or all of the above methods
Since nursing is flexible, you and the mother can discuss strategies that will be most convenient for both of you.
CARE OF BREASTFED BABIES
Since breast milk is more easily digested than formula, a newborn will need to be fed about every 2-3 hours. The figures below will give you and the mother a general idea as to how much breast milk an infant may drink, according to his or her age:
|
0-2 months |
2-5 ounces per feeding |
|
2-4 months |
4-6 ounces per feeding |
|
4-6 months |
5-7 ounces per feeding |
The mother should be able to tell you at what times of the day her baby normally nurses. However, some babies tend to eat less frequently when away from their mothers, since they associate her with nursing.
A breastfed baby’s stools are different from those of a formula-fed baby. Bowel movements are usually bright to pale yellow, to brownish yellow and sometimes even green. The consistency can vary, and sometimes they look seedy. There is usually little odor. A breastfed baby can have a bowel movement after every feeding or very infrequently (up to once every ten days, sometimes longer). As solid foods are added to the diet, the baby’s stools will begin to resemble those of a formula-fed baby’s in texture, color and odor.
HANDLING BREAST MILK
Human breast milk has anti-bacterial properties that help it to stay fresh. Breast milk is thin and watery in appearance, not thick and opaque like cow’s milk or formula. It can have a blue or green tint. Breast milk does separate and needs to be gently swirled to mix the fatty part with the watery part. The following information is based on the up-to-date guidelines for storing human breast milk from La Leche League International. This information is based on current research, and applies to mothers who:
· have healthy, full-term babies;
· are storing their milk for home use (as opposed to hospital use);
· wash their hands before expressing;
· use containers that have been washed in hot, soapy water and rinsed.
· All milk should be dated before storing.
You can store breast milk as indicated:
|
Thawed Breast milk
(previously frozen) |
|
|
Frozen breast milk |
|
|
Freshly-expressed
breast milk |
|
To reduce wasting breast milk, store milk in 2-4 ounce
amounts. Some moms pour freshly expressed breast milk in to clean ice cube
trays to freeze. Once frozen, remove and store cubes in the freezer in an air tight
storage container or breast milk storage bag.
Breast milk defrosts very quickly in warm water. DO NOT MICROWAVE, as microwave heating destroys some of the essential nutrients and antibodies in breast milk. To thaw and/or heat, run the milk under warm (not hot) tap water or sit the milk in a pan of warm water. It can also be defrosted in the refrigerator.
Do not bring temperature of milk to boiling point.
Swirl milk before testing the temperature. Swirling will also mix the cream back into the milk. (It is normal for stored breast milk to separate into two parts – a thicker cream layer on top of a thinner milk layer.)
Discard any breast milk left over from a feeding – at this time, there is not enough evidence to provide guidelines on the safety of re-using the remaining milk from a previous feeding.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
Nursing works on a supply and demand basis. A mother’s body produces milk at the times the baby nursed the day before. If the mother is used to feeding her baby the minute she sees him/her, her breasts will be full of milk and she needs to nurse the baby to relieve the pressure. If the baby is hungry within an hour or so of the mother’s return, discuss with the mother what she would prefer -- does she want the baby to be fed a small amount of breast milk to satisfy him/her until she arrives, or distract the baby without a feeding until she is there to breastfeed? It is a particularly thoughtful and supportive gesture to discuss the events of the baby’s day with the mother while she nurses. You and the nursing mother may also find it easiest to have the mother feed the baby just before leaving him/her in the morning, in order to decrease the number of feedings while the baby is in your care.
Sometimes breastfed babies are reluctant to take a bottle. If this happens, try to work with the mother to find a solution. You can also contact Nursing Mothers, Inc. for strategies to help.
A nursing mother needs your support and assistance to help her continue to feed her baby as she chooses. Try to support her using positive statements and encouragement, even if you don’t always agree with the mother’s choices. You can also help by not suggesting she start solids if she and her Dr. feel the baby is not ready (current AAP guidelines recommend introducing solids at 6 months of age, but some moms start later for various reasons). Your support will help the mother maintain confidence in her decisions.
With the correct information, caring for a breastfed baby can be a rewarding experience for you, the mother and most of all, the baby.
Related Factsheets
Combining Nursing and Employment
Collection and Storage of Breastmilk
The Father's Role in the Breastfeeding Family
Retyped: 12/02 Megan Allen
Revised: 12/02 Megan Allen
Copyright on the Internet 2000, NMInc.
If you need more information please call your counselor or Nursing Mothers, Inc., information line at (302) 733-0973.
Nursing Mothers, Inc. is a non-profit organization. We never charge for our services, we would gladly accept your tax-deductible donations.