Frequently Asked Questions
How to manage engorgement
Prior to feeding:
- Use relaxation techniques
- Reduce stress
- Apply a very warm washcloth to the breast
- Massage breasts thoroughly with fingertips
- Gently hand express to relieve fullness and to stimulate let down so
baby can latch easier. Keep baby's ear, shoulder & hip
aligned and baby tucked in close to you.
- Place baby to the breast when exhibiting feeding cues and prior to
crying, as baby is calmer. Cues: Smacking or licking
lips, fingers to mouth, rooting & stirring in sleep.
- Allow baby to feed thoroughly, until baby takes itself off.
- Place ice or frozen bag of corn or peas to breast for 10 minutes
following feeding.
- Nurse frequently. No supplements or water unless ordered by
pediatrician.
How can parents tell if their baby is getting enough nourishment?
When you are breastfeeding, monitoring your baby's growth is a vital
concern. There are a number of objective indicators to watch for as signs
that your baby is getting enough food to grow on. These signs of healthy
growth are:
- Baby needs one wet diaper for each day of age up to day 5. ie 1:1
day old, 2:2 etc.
- After day 5 your baby needs five or more wet diapers each day (some
aturated).
- Your baby's urine is clear, not yellow.
- By baby's 5th day of life stools are no longer meconium (black &
sticky).
- Your baby has a strong suck and you can hear audible swallowing.
- Your baby nurses 8-12 times in a 24 hour period (from midnight to
midnight).
- Your baby is alert and responsive during wake time.
- Your baby is content and sleeping between feedings.
- Your baby is gaining weight or growing in length.
Unhealthy growth indicators are:
- Your baby does not have enough wet diapers, none saturated.
- Your baby's urine is concentrated and bright yellow.
- Your baby's stool is still meconium (black & sticky) on day 5.
- Baby's suck is weak and you cannot hear swallowing
- Your baby is nursing less than 8 or more than 12 times in a 24 hour
period.
- Baby is very sleepy and slow to respond to stimulus.
- Your baby is not content (acts hungry) or does not sleep between
feedings.
- Your baby is not gaining weight or growing in length.
For peace of mind we suggest you monitor his growth for the first several
days. Make a chart to monitor the number of feedings baby has
and baby's output. Times (ie when things happen) are not
important, just the daily totals. Be consistent counting from
midnight to midnight. Any two consecutive days that norms are
not met should be reported to your pediatrician immediately.
When baby is consistently meeting all proper growth signs and weight
indicates that all is well, recording may stop.
Considerations for buying a pump
- How long do you hope to breastfeed?
- Will you be working or staying at home?
- How much time will you have to pump?
- Where will you be pumping – do you have access to electricity?
- Will there be other children that you may use this pump with?
- Average monthly cost of formula is $175.00 - $275.00 depending on
type used.
- Breast pumps should be single user to avoid exposing baby to
any virus another mother may carry. Exception is a rental pump which
has no direct connection to anything that touched mom.
Presently, Lynne stocks the Medela "Pump in Style" breast pump. When purchased
from Lynne's stock, she will have it delivered free of charge within a 25 mile
radius of Lexington, Kentucky.
Safe milk expression and proper storage guidelines
- Wash hands prior to pumping
- Store milk in any clean container: baby bottle, storage bags,
double bag if using a bottle liner.
- Date the container of expressed milk (use the oldest milk first)
- Fresh breastmilk may be kept at room temperature for 6 to 8
hours. Refrigerate the breastmilk if you do not intend to
use it in that time frame.
- Breastmilk may be refrigerated for 5-7 days.
- Freeze in refrigerator freezer from 4 to 6 months (place in
back of freezer not on the door). Fresher when used if
frozen in the first 48 hours after expression. Deep
Freezer -20 C may be kept for 6-12 months. Never refreeze thawed
breastmilk.
- Previously frozen thawed breastmilk is good in the refrigerator
for 24 hours
- Once breastmilk is warmed it must be used within 1 hour. Never
microwave breastmilk. Warm by placing it in tepid water.
- Breastmilk may separate with the cream rising to the top. DO
NOT SHAKE to mix. Gently swirl the container to mix the layers.
- Any breastmilk not taken by the baby from the bottle must be
discarded.
- Wash pump parts in hot soapy water, rinse well and allow to air
dry.
Average intake range by weight
Multiply baby's current weight by 2.25. This total is the
average range of intake in ounces needed by baby for an entire day.
Divide this total by the number of feedings each day to
see how many ounces should be given per feeding. Remember
that all babies are different. This is just a guide to get
you started - some babies may need more and some less.
