Feeding your baby
Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby. Exclusive breastfeeding (that means giving your baby breastmilk only, with no other food or drink) is recommended for around the first six months of your baby's life. Breastmilk provides all the nutrients your baby needs and helps to protect them from infections and diseases.
- Bring your baby in close to your body so that they don't have to stretch to reach your breast. Support their neck, shoulders and back. Make sure their head is free to be able to tilt back.
- Check their head and body are in a straight line facing the same way as they will be uncomfortable if they are twisted when feeding. Move your baby so that they start the feed with their nose pointing to your nipple.
- Starting 'nose to nipple' like this allows them to reach up and get a mouthful of breast from underneath your nipple.
- With the chin firmly touching, and with the nose clear, the mouth is wide open, and there will be much more of the darker skin visible above your baby's top lip than below their bottom lip – and their cheeks will look full and rounded as your baby feeds.
Just like any new skill, breastfeeding takes time and practice to work well. In the first few days, you and your baby will be getting to know each other. Any close contact and holding your baby against your skin can really help with this.
Its ok to ask for help:
Southend-on-Sea City Council Infant feeding support: 01702 534913
24-hour National breastfeeding hotline: 1800 686 268
Formula feeding
Powdered infant formula milk must be prepared as carefully as possible. It is not a sterile product, and even though tins and packets of milk powder are sealed, they can contain bacteria such as Cronobacter sakazakii (formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii) and, more rarely, salmonella. If the feed is not prepared safely, these bacteria can cause infections. Infections are very rare but can be life-threatening. Formula must therefore be made up with water hot enough to kill the bacteria – at least 70ºC.
How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?
- your baby should be healthy and gaining weight
- in the first 48 hours, your baby is likely to have only two or three wet nappies. Wet nappies should then start to become more frequent, with at least six every 24 hours from day five onwards.
- most babies lose weight initially. They should be weighed by a health professional sometime around day three to five. From then on, they should start to gain weight. Most babies regain their birth weight in the first two weeks.
- at the beginning, your baby will pass a black tar-like stool (poo) called meconium. By day three, this should be changing to a lighter, runnier, greenish stool that is easier to clean up. From day four and for the first few weeks, your baby should pass at least two yellow stools every day. These stools should be at least the size of a £2 coin.
- your breasts and nipples should not be sore. If they are, do ask for help.
- your baby will be content and satisfied after most feeds and will come off the breast on their own
- if you are concerned about any of these points, speak to your health visitor