Breastfeeding
Babies in Grace may not be able to feed straight away, so preparation is important for when the baby is able to start feeding.
Our lactation specialist can help and advise you on breast feeding, expressing milk and the availability of donor breast milk.
We will support your feeding preference even if you decide not to breastfeed. Your baby may be eligible to receive donor breast milk, our team will discuss this option with you. The hospital supplies standard baby formula, bottles and teats.
If you choose to use formula or donor breast milk our team will ask you sign a consent form and discuss the options with you in detail.
Please feel free to ask for a consultation with them.
We have a dietitian and speech therapist who are also available to help during your admission.
Expressing breast milk
Regularly expressing your breast milk is a way to give your baby milk, possibly through a feeding tube, and to make sure you have a supply of milk for when they can breastfeed.
Early, frequent and regular expressing is the key to good milk volumes (and supply) when you are unable to breastfeed.
Expressing should occur every 3 –4 hours or 6-8 times in 24 hours.
Your milk can be collected in a syringe or container, refrigerated, and brought into the unit in an esky with ice packs.
Expressing be done by hand or using an electric pump.
We will give you an expressing kit that connects to the electric breast pump. The pump mimics the natural sucking behaviour of your baby at the breast, stimulating the flow of milk.
Using a breast pump once your milk has “come in” will help establish and maintain your milk supply.
Building a good milk supply
The following activities can help:
- enjoy skin to skin cuddles with your baby as soon as possible and as often as possible. Alternately hand hugs and scent pads can also help.
- eat well and drink at least 8 cups of water a day
- rest regularly
- consider loaning or hiring a breast pump for use at home
Storing expressed breast milk
Once you have expressed and labelled your breast milk (our staff will show you how to do this), the milk will be stored in a container with your baby’s name, either in the fridge (for use within 48 hours) or placed in the freezer (can be stored for 3 months).
Instructions on milk storage is outlined in the table below with additional information on storage at home provided in our discharge resource.
We will provide you with expressing equipment, guide you with use of our electric breast pumps and show you where to store your milk in either the fridge or freezer.
Storage time in hospital fridge | Storage time in home fridge | Storage time in hospital freezer | Storage time in home freezer | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Freshly expressed milk | 48 hours | 3 days | 3 months | 3 months. Deep freezer 6 months |
Thawed milk | 24 hours | 24 hours | Do not refreeze | Do not refreeze |