Supporting Breastfeeding Flashcards
What are the breastfeeding recommendations?
Babies should initiate breastfeeding within first hour of life
Babies should be exclusively breastfed for around first 6 months of life
Should continue until 2 years or beyond
What are the increased risk of babies who are not breastfed?
SIDS, NEC, diarrhoea episodes, respiratory infections, otitis media, dental malocclusions, childhood leukaemia, T1 diabetes, T2DM and childhood obesity
What are the increased risk for mothers who do not breastfeed?
Breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, CVD, T2DM and depression
Why do mothers stop breastfeeding earlier?
Feeding issues, skill acquisition, maternal wellbeing, lack of help form professional and family/ social
What does breastfeeding look like when it’s going well?
Infant - growing well, adequate nappy output and generally content
Mother - no nipple/ breast pain and no concern
How do we know if there is a breastfeeding problem?
Infant - not growing as expected, poor nappy output, difficulty feeding and not content after most feeds
Mother - Significant/ persistent nipple pain, nipple damage, breast pain and considering stopping before ready
Describe nipple pain/ damage
Usually due to shallow/ suboptimal latch
Also vasospasm, milk bleb, tongue tie and dermatitis
Signpost to expert breastfeeding support
Describe blocked ducts and mastitis advise
Mastitis is not usually infective
Do not advise the mother to stop breastfeeding, don’t massage, don’t apply heat, don’t pump or extra feed and don’t squeeze out blockage
What is the recommended treatment for mastitis?
Breast rest - breastfeed as normal, analgesia, anti-inflammatories, ice, lymphatic drainage stroking and antibiotics only if needed
Describe reflux is babies
More common causes are gastro-oesophageal reflux, normal baby behaviour, difficulties breastfeeding, non-paced bottle feeding/overfeeding and CMPA
What is the management of GORD in babies?
Breast feeding assessment before medication first line
What are some contraindications to breastfeeding?
Maternal - therapies (chemo and radioactive isotopes, clozapine), infections and unpredictable illicit drug use
Infant - classical galactosaemic and congenital lactose intolerance
Where do i find support for mothers?
Local support group
Hospital/ community infant feeding team
National breastfeeding hotline
IBCLCs
