What if I cannot breastfeed my baby at the breast?You can express your breast milk when:

• yourbabygoestotheneonatalunit

• youaredischargedbeforeyourbaby

• youaregoingbacktoworkorstudy.

Importantwhenexpressing:

• Washyourhands.

• Useacleancontainer.

• Expressedmilkmustbekeptcool.

• Cupfeedthemilktoyourbaby.

Partners for successful breastfeedingHealthcare workers can support the mother by:• placingherbabyskin-to-skinwithherimmediately

afterbirthforatleastanhour• helpingthemothertostartbreastfeedingwithin

thefirsthourafterbirth• keepingmotherandbabytogetherinthesame

roomwhileinhospital(roomingin)• notseparatingamotherandherbabyunlessthere

isamedicalindication• assistingthemothertopositionandattachher

babyforsuccessfulbreastfeeding.

Family and friends can support a mother by:• respectingandsupportingherdecisionto

breastfeed

• respectingandsupportingherdecisionto express her breast milk

• refrainingfromofferingoutdatedadvice

• assistingwithhouseholddutiesandcaringforherotherchildren.

Exclusive Breastfeeding / Feeding smart from the startBabiesneedbreastmilkwithoutanyotherfoodorfluidforthefirst6monthsoflife.Thereafterintroducenutritiousfoodsand

continuetobreastfeedfor2yearsandbeyond.

How do I know that my baby is getting enough breast milk?• Thebabyisgainingweight:According tothegrowthchart(weightforage)the

babyisgrowingwell.• Thebabyhasabout6-8wetnappiesin 24hours.• Thebabyishappyandsatisfied.

Speak to your healthcare provider for more information on hand milk expression.

Why must I breastfeed exclusively?Breastfeedingwillassistwithyourbaby’sbraindevelopment.Breastfeedingwillassistwithyourbaby’steethandjawdevelopment.Breastfeedinghelpsyoutogettoknowyourbaby.Breastfeedingisgoodforthemombecauseit:• helpstodecreasebleedingafterbirth• decreasesthechancesofdeveloping

breastandovariancancer• helpswithweightcontrolafterpregnancy.

Why does my baby need breast milk?Thefirstmilkproducedbythebreastisasticky,yellow-whiteearlymilk(colostrum)andshouldbeyourbaby’sfirstfood.Itisnormalformotherstoproduceonlyasmallamountofcolostrum.Thismilkisrichinprotectivefactorsandvitaminsandactsasyourbaby’sfirstimmunisation.

Otherbenefitsofcolostrumarethatit:• helpsthebabytopassthefirststool• decreasesthechancesofdeveloping

jaundice

Breast milk contains ALL the necessary nutrients (vitaminsandminerals)forgoodgrowthNoextrafluids(suchaswater,tea,formulamilk,traditionalmedicinesandhomeremedies)orfoodsareneededduringthefirst6monthsofyourbaby’slife.Breastmilkisyourbaby’snaturalfoodandhelpsprotectyourbabyagainstmalnutrition,chestinfec-tionandtummybugs(suchasdiarrhoea).Breastmilkisavailableatalltimes(dayandnight)andiseasilyabsorbedbyyourbaby’stummy.

When do I start breastfeeding? Thebesttimetostartbreastfeedingissoon(inthefirsthour)afterbirthwhileyourbabyislyingskin-to-skinwithyou.Thisisthetimewhenyourbaby’ssuckingreflex/actionisatitsstrongest.Mostnewbornsarereadytofindthenippleandstartbreastfeedingwithinthefirsthourafterbirth.Mostbabieswillbeplacedskintoskinafterbirthwhichencouragesmother-babybondingandagoodstarttosuccessfulbreastfeeding.

How do I breastfeed?Mostmotherscanbreastfeedeffectivelywithpositivesup-portfromhealthcareproviders,familyandfriends.Babywillusuallyfeedatonebreastuntilcontentandsatisfied.Switchtotheotherbreastatthenextfeedorifbabywantstocontinuefeeding.Positioning:Holdingyourbabycorrectlymakesbreastfeedingeasy:• Mothermustbecomfortable• Removeallbarriers(extrablanketsandclothing)be-

tweenthemotherandbaby.• Babymustbeheldclose(“hugged”)tothemother.• Mother’sarmmustsupportthebaby.• Thebaby’sear,shoulderandhipshouldbeinastraight

line.• Avoidpushingthebaby’sheadtowardsthebreast.

You can prevent painful nipples by attaching your baby to the breast correctly:• Thebaby’smouthiswideopen• Thelowerlipiscurledoutwards.• Moreareola(darkenedareaaroundthe nipple)isvisibleabovethebaby’smouththan

belowit.• Thebaby’schinmusttouchthemother’s

breast.

SucklingCorrectsucklinghelpbabiesgetenoughmilk.Youknowyourbabyissucklingcorrectlywhen:• thebaby’scheeksarefullandround,not

drawnin• deepsucklingandswallowingsoundscan

sometimesbeheard.

Why is it best to feed my baby whenever he or she wants to feed?Feedingyourbabyoftenencouragesagoodmilksup-plyandensuresasatisfiedandhappybaby.• Feedyourbabyinthedayandnight.• Feedwheneveryourbabywantstofeed• Feedyourbabyforaslongasyourbabywants

tofeed• Allowthebabytoendthefeed.

Feeding cuesIfyourbabyishungryforafeed,heorshewill:• searchforthemother’sbreast(rooting)• makesucklingsounds• turntheheadfromsidetoside• putthehandsorfingersinthemouth• moanorcry.