Breastfeeding

Question 1

What is the first batch of milk a mother produces called?

Answer 1

Colostrum

Question 2

What is the enterobronchomammary pathway?

Answer 2

When mother and baby are exposed to an infection, the mothers body will begin to produce antibodies that can be used to treat the bacteria. These antibodies are passed onto the baby through the mothers breastmilk so that the baby can also fight the infection.

Question 3

If a baby is hypothermic, fractious or reluctant to feed, what can we use to help?

Answer 3

We should encourage skin to skin contact. Baby will warm up using the mothers body temperature and the close contact will allow for the baby to hear the mothers breathing pattern and heart rate- simulating the calm womb environment.

Question 4

What does C.H.I.N. stand for? Explain each step.

Answer 4

1. Chin leading. When encouraging a baby to breastfeed, we must allow them to tip their head back so their chin is leading their head forward. This makes the process much easier for the baby to latch onto the breast.
2. Held close. It is essential for mother to hold the baby close. This allows for the baby to feel calm and also smell the milk which they are trying to find. Holding baby close also releases oxytocin in the mothers body which helps stimulate milk production.
3. Inline. Position wise, it is important that babies body is inline with the mothers breasts so that it has the best chance of latching on and feeding.
4. Nose to nipple. The babies mouth should encircle the entire bottom third of the mothers breast. This ensures that there is minimum intake of air and that the procedure isn’t painful for mum.

Question 5

Give four ways for us to tell that baby has latched on properly during breastfeeding.

Answer 5

1. Round, full cheeks. We will notice that the babies cheeks are rounded when they are successfully getting milk.
2. Content baby
3. Comfortable mother (breastfeeding may be slightly uncomfortable at first due to the new sensation but should not be painful).
4. Audible swallows. (We can also look to the babies throat area to see visible signs of swallowing breastmilk).

Question 6

Why is oxytocin important in relation to breastfeeding and in particular, hand expressing?

Answer 6

Oxytocin is the love hormone and stimulates the mothers emotional response to produce milk. When hand expressing, it is important the mother is near the baby so that her brain realises oxytocin which will allow for her milk to come in. If this is not possible, the mother may choose to have a picture of the baby, an item of babies clothing or perform a gentle breast massage to realise the hormone.

Question 7

Where is the best place to hold fingers during hand expressing?

Answer 7

2-3cm back from the base of the nipple, in a ‘C’ shape.

Question 8

Describe the technique of hand expressing. There are 6 stages.

Answer 8

1. Ensure you are comfortable and in a relaxed environment. In order to encourage oxytocin realise and therefore milk production massage around the breasts or have a picture / item of babies clothing nearby.
2. Place the finger(s) and thumb 2-3cm back from the base of the nipple in a C shape.
3. Gently compress and realise fingers/thumb in a steady rhythm.
4. Keep the fingers/thumb in one place and avoid sliding them down the skin. This can cause pain and irritation to the fragile breast skin.
5. Change positions so that you extract from different sections of the breast.
6. When milk flow ceases, move onto other breast.

Question 9

Give 5 reasons as to why we may hand express breastmilk.

Answer 9

1. To stimulate the production of milk for breastfeeding
2. To produce breastmilk for a baby who may not be able to breastfeed (I.e. They may be in the NeoNatal ward as a premature baby).
3. To prevent/treat conditions related to breastfeeding (for example mastitis).
4. To relieve discomfort from overly full/engoured breasts (for example if baby has missed a feed).
5. To allow someone other than the mother to feed the baby using breastmilk in a bottle.