RELATED TOPIC:
Nursing Knowledge
The main physical benefits of breastfeeding are:
Tip: Whether by bottle or breast, feeding is an important time for connection and bonding. Encourage clients to make eye contact and talk to the baby while feeding.
Extended breastfeeding refers to continuing to breastfeed the infant past the age of one year.
Generally, it is said that the longer a baby is breastfed, the longer they benefit from the immune and developmental supportive effects. It is important to note that the duration of breastfeeding is individual and parents should never be pressured to continue or cease breastfeeding unless there are medical reasons.
The longer-term breastfeeding also has an impact on the family and the community: It decreases food cost to the family and decreases healthcare cost to family and community due to infection/disease prevention.
Pumping breast milk and bottle feeding the infant offers greater flexibility. Others can take over feeding the baby, allowing the mother to rest or get other things done. Pumped milk can be stored for later use and mothers who return to work can continue breastfeeding.
Also, pumping and bottle feeding allows for more exact monitoring of the milk volume the baby consumes.
Guidelines for supporting successful breastfeeding initiation:
Families are more likely to initiate and sustain breastfeeding when they receive timely education, support and encouragement. Teach proper latching-on technique. Achieving a deep latch promotes adequate milk transfer and prevents nipple tissue damage.
Demonstrate and support clients to try a variety of breastfeeding positions. Emphasize positions that meet the specific needs of the newborn period. Explain that the ideal feeding position may change as the baby grows.
The quantity and frequency of feeding will change over time as the infant grows. Feeding patterns may vary from one infant to another.
Whether feeding by bottle or breast, feeding should be done on-demand following the baby’s hunger and satiety cues.
Average frequency of feeding:
Use leftover breast milk within 2 hours after the baby is finished feeding.
| Room temperature | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
| Formula | Up to 2 hours; 1 hour after feeding | Up to 1 day | Does not require freezing |
| Freshly pumped breast milk | Up to 4 hours | Up to 4 days | Best up to 6 months (up to 12 months acceptable) |
| Thawed breastmilk | 1–2 hours | Up to 1 day | Never refreeze |
RELATED TOPIC:
Free Download
Master the topic with a unique study combination of a concise summary paired with video lectures.
Your free account gives you access to:
or
