Chapter 15. Breastfeeding Your Hospitalized Baby
Yes, you can try hand expression and ask the nurse for a syringe to store the milk for your baby.
- Syringes can be found at local drug stores.
- Feeding cups with lids are typically available at baby stores, and occasionally through online platforms such as parent support groups or marketplaces, but please be aware of the potential risks associated with online groups.
Your baby is still very young and needs time to learn how to suckle.
- Do not wait until your baby is extremely hungry to start feeding:
When he is in a good mood, he will naturally be more patient about learning to breastfeed. If he is too hungry and refuses to suckle the nipple, feed him with a cup or bottle for a short while first, and then try to get him to latch onto the nipple again. - Stimulate the let-down reflex:
One reason babies dislike breastfeeding is that they find it easier to drink from a bottle.
Before feeding, you can massage the breasts or hold the baby for skin-to-skin contact to stimulate the let-down reflex. Alternatively, during breastfeeding, apply pressure at the underside of the breast with your hand to simulate the milk flow. - Skin-to-skin contact:
Have more skin-to-skin contact with your baby on a daily basis to help him get used to it, especially thirty minutes before breastfeeding.