Question

1. You are assisting Sarah with her breastfeeding, when she tells you she is not sure how she should hold the baby when she is breastfeeding.

She also asks how long to feed the baby on one breast before she changes breast.

She wants to know how she will know if the baby is getting enough to eat since she can’t measure the amount of milk the baby is getting.

      What will you teach Sarah to assist her?

Answer 1

Breast milk is the best milk for your baby. It is rich in protein, sugar, vitamins etc.

Position:

Make sure that you are sitting comfortably in a rigid surface.

Hold the baby facing your chest with nose opposite your niplple.

Position your fingers back from your nipple.

Touch the nipple to baby's lips to encourage to open their mouth wide.

Support your breast until the baby is sucking and swallowing in rhythmic pattern.

How often to breast feed:

Babies need minimum of seven feeds in 24 hours, especially in early weeks after birth.
If the baby is well feeded, then they are alert, active and content when awake. Also they have at least one yellow, loose bowel every day after first bowel is passed.
You know your baby is feeding correctly when you can hear or see the baby swallowing.

If your baby has finished one breast, they will either come off the breast by their own or stop sucking actively. It will take about 5 to 8minutes to finish one breast milk.