As soon as baby is born getting to know your baby through holding them skin to skin is the best way to calm baby, keep them warm and regulate their breathing. It also encourages their natural reflexes to feed.
On the postnatal ward on going support with feeding is available. Skin to skin time with baby is encouraged and babies are kept close to mum in both standard and clip on bed side cots to encourage bonding and maternal recognition of babies cues to feed. Mums are advised to stay in postnatally until their baby has established effective feeding.
Here at the Women and Children’s Hospital, we are Unicef Baby Friendly Accredited. This means we have policies, guidelines and trained staff who are able to support you with your chosen method of feeding your baby, to achieve the best results.
Breastfeeding gives your baby the best possible start in life and almost all women can breastfeed successfully. Once baby is born early breastfeeding is encouraged and mum’s are recommended to ask for support with each breastfeed so that they can feel confident with breastfeeding their baby prior to discharge. It can sometimes feel like hard work to begin with but through asking for support you and your baby can gain the many health benefits breastfeeding provides and a have wonderful positive experience. On going breastfeeding support is provided in the community through midwives and peer supporters.
During the antenatal period you are welcome to attend our breast feeding awareness sessions, held at the Women and Children’s Hospital. This is a fun and informative evening which aims to highlight the benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby. We also encourage other friends or family members to attend so they to can gain information and learn how to best support your and your baby with breastfeeding. Ask your community midwife for details.
If you have any specific feeding issues you would like to discuss, your Community Midwife can refer you to the infant feeding coordinators for advice.