|
Benefits of breastfeeding
last a lifetime
Questions about breastfeeding
Thawing frozen breast
milk
Baby-led latching
Breastfeeding positions
Storing breast milk/thawing
frozen breast milk
Expressing breast milk
How to express breast
milk by hand
Getting started
Tips to help breastfeeding
Caring for nipples that
are sore
General breast care
Caring for breasts that
are hard
How to tell if your baby
is getting enough breast milk
Baby-led latching is
a natural and simple way for your baby to get
to your breast. It is also helpful when your baby
is learning to breastfeed, when your baby is not
breastfeeding well, or when your nipples are sore.
top
Try different positions.
For all positions, check that:
- you are relaxed and comfortable
- your back and arms are
well supported
- your baby’s head
and body are raised up to your breast
- your baby’s chest
is facing and touching your chest (place your
baby on her side except in the football position
– for the football position, place your
baby on her back or slightly turned to your
breast)
- your baby’s nose
is facing your nipple (bring baby to you
instead of leaning over or pushing your nipple
into your baby’s mouth)
- your baby's chin touches
your breast first
- when your baby's
mouth is wide open, bring your baby close to
your chest by pulling your baby's bottom closer
top
Storing breast
milk
- Freshly expressed breast
milk can be stored at room
temperature (less than 25°C or 77°F)
for 6-8 hours.
- Freshly expressed breast
milk must be cooled if not used
within 6-8 hours of expressing.
Containers
for storing breast milk
- Use glass or hard plastic
containers with an air-tight lid (for example,
small jars and bottles with lids).
- Special breast milk
freezer bags can also be used.
- Do not use bottle liner
bags. These are thinner plastic bags that may
break when frozen.
Cleaning
the containers
- For healthy babies wash
containers in hot soapy water and rinse well
with hot water. Let the containers air dry on
a dry clean surface away from where food is
made.
Tips for storing
breast milk
- Cool freshly expressed
milk within 1 hour of expressing.
- Label containers with
date and time.
- Store in smaller amounts
to prevent wasting milk.
- Always cool freshly
expressed milk before adding it to already cooled
or frozen milk.
- Leave a 1 inch space
at the top of the container when freezing.
If your baby is premature
(born too early) or in the hospital,
speak to your nurse about storing breast milk
and cleaning
containers. Sterilized containers may be provided
by the
hospital.
Continue
>>
Please download the
Breastfeeding
your Baby Booklet.
(PDF, 8 pages, 835 KB).
This
booklet and information on How to Breastfeed
has been reprinted with permission from Toronto
Public Health.
top
|
