Breastfeeding

Breast feeding is considered the most natural and beneficial way to feed a baby and highly recommended.

It is a personal choice if you breast feed your baby or not.

Breastfeeding is believed to reduce a number of early or common childhood ailments and boost the bonding process between mother and baby.

The World Health Organisation recommends that a baby should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months.

It is recommended to feed your baby on demand. This generally tends to be around the 3 or 4 hour mark once your baby settles into a routine.

Storing breast milk that you have expressed is best done in a sterilized container and placed in the fridge.

Milk can be stored for 48 hours and if necessary 3-5 days.

It’s important to note that while technically breast milk can be stored without refrigeration at around 26’C for up to 6 hours, it is not recommended and the best option is to store it in a fridge.

Store your breast milk in the middle part of the fridge as the door is the hottest part.

If you place it in the freezer it can be left for up to 3 months inside the freezer of a two door fridge or 2 weeks inside the freezer on a one door model, and if it is a deep freezer it can be stored up to 6 months.

Place the milk in a clearly labelled container with the date and time of freezing. This allows you to be able to use the oldest first and helps you remember when it was expressed.

Once thawed it needs to be used within 24 hours.

• Check about any medications you are on to see if they are OK to continue or if they pass across safely to the child while you are breast feeding.
• It is recommended to continue to avoid the same foods that you did in pregnancy, such as soft cheeses, processed meats, etc.
• It is also recommended not to drink alcohol or smoke.
• Never re-heat expressed breast milk discard as soon as finished.
• Only keep thawed breast milk refrigerated for no longer than 24 hours.
• Sterilise all equipment to be used when expressing.
• Do no thaw breast milk in the microwave in the fridge is best and do not re-freeze.
• Be careful if you heat expressed milk in the microwave- take the lid off and shake well, test on your inner arm before giving to baby as sometimes microwaves can produce ‘hot spots’. Be careful not to overheat as it’s best to use immediately rather than wait till it cools after a heating. Although the jury is out on whether this is an accepted way to heat breast milk, with a divide with Dr’s and pediatricians, not to mention other mums, as some believe that the nutrients and immunological properties are also lost/destroyed in this form of heating as well as the possibility of hot spots. It is recommended to warm the milk in warm water. And if you do heat it in this way remember to test on the inside of your wrist to check the temperature.
• Another way to warm breast milk (aside from the controversial microwave or the standing in warm water method) is to use a bottle warmer but it should be in there for less than 10 minutes and again ensure it doesn’t get too hot so that then it has to cool again.
• Some recommend warming the teat too as the nipple is normally warm and if the bottle has been stored in the fridge it may be ‘too cold’ for the baby to easily accept.
• Store bottles in the middle of the fridge never in the door (the door is the hottest part of the fridge).
• Feeding may last 20-30 mins.
• Feed your baby when they are hungry- it is considered that demand feeding is the better way to feed. A baby will settle into a routine this way but it does not need to be an exact routine.
• If a baby sleeps through a night feed it means they no longer need it.
• All babies need burping, even if held and fed correctly they will swallow some air.
• Sometimes during a growth spurt a baby may need more feeding.

If you are finding that breastfeeding is proving tricky or you have questions or concerns or problems then there are support organisations that can help during the learning phase. The Australian Breastfeeding Association (https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/ ), your child health nurse or a lactation consultant or even the 24 hr child health line can be of great help.

• How do I get the milk flow increased or started?
• How do I know if the baby is attached correctly?
• How often should I feed the baby? Are they getting enough?
• How do I successfully breast feed if I am working/returning to work?
• What is the best way to stop breast feeding?
• What do I do about…… Cracked nipples, mastitis, swollen breasts, blocked milk ducts, etc.