HELPING WITH BREASTFEEDING

Objectives
Describe support during labor and birth Analyze the importance of early contact for mother and baby Perform breast and nipple assessment Discuss babys positions for breastfeeding

Support during Labor

Encourage the mother to walk and move in labor Offer light nourishment and fluids Increase the mothers confidence Suggest ways to keep pain and anxiety manageable Provide massage, hand-holding and cool cloths Use positive words

Skin to Skin Contact and Early Breastfeeding

Skin to Skin Contact

Calms the mother and baby Helps to stabilize the babys heartbeat and breathing

Keeps baby warm with heat from the mothers body

Assists with metabolic adaptation and blood glucose stabilization in the baby Reduces infant crying, thus reducing stress and energy use Allows the baby to find the breast and self-attach Enables colonization of the babys gut with the mothers normal body bacteria

Encouraging Oxytocin Release

Sensory Stimulation Relaxing and being comfortable Expressing a little milk and stimulating the nipple Contact with the baby Upper back massageespecially along the sides of the backbone

Rooming In

Breast Milk Production

Signs of Hunger
Early Signs: Alert Increased eye movement Soft whimpering sounds Rooting Sucks or chews on its hands, fingers, blankets or anything that comes in contact with the mouth

Signs of Hunger:
Late Signs:

Crying loudly
Back arching Difficulty latching May need to be held and calmed before the baby is able to be fed.

Assessment of the Mothers Breast and Nipples

Antenatal nipple preparation is not helpful.

Observe during breastfeeding

To assess the breast: -Ask for permission

-Ensure privacy
-Touch gently Highlight the positive signs and reassure

Babys position
1. Skin-to-Skin 2. Tummy-to-Mummy 3. Spine-in-Line 4. Nipple-to-Nose 5. Baby-to-Breast not Breast-to-Baby In line ear, shoulder, hip Close baby brought in close to the mother Supported at head and shoulders, or whole body if newborn Facing the breast - with nose to nipple

Mothers Position
Sitting on floor Sitting in chair Sitting in bed Lying down Standing Walking

Mothers Position
Principles: 1. Comfortable with back supported Feet supported if sitting Breast supported if

2. 3.

needed

Babys Position
Cradle hold Cross-cradle

Football
Side lying Over the shoulder

Straddle

Breastfeeding Positions
7/1

Breastfeeding Counselling: a training course,

WHO/CHD/93.4, UNICEF/NUT/93.2

Cross Cradle

Cradle Hold

Football Hold

Side Lying

Straddle Hold

C Hold

C Squeeze

U Hold

U Squeeze

Getting the Good Latch

Good Latch - Bad Latch

How to Assess Breastfeeding

Explain you want to watch the baby feeding, not what the mother is doing

If baby attached well and sucking effectively, do not interfere

Unwrap the baby

Unwrap the mother!

Use Breastfeeding Observation Aid

Summary
Skin to skin contact calms the mother and the baby and stimulates milk production Assess the mothers breast and nipples The mother should be in a comfortable position during breastfeeding Assess the mother and baby in breastfeeding

THANK YOU.