As the time comes nearer for your baby to be discharged home you will hopefully have an opportunity to stay in a room in the neonatal unit with your baby close by to enable you to care for your baby whilst still having access to neonatal staff. This is the time for you and your partner to prepare for home within a safe environment. It is also a time when you may be moving towards full breastfeeding.
FAQs
Why can’t I just give my breastmilk by bottle?
Whilst it is much better for your baby to have your milk in a bottle rather than formula milk, there are definite advantages for both of you if you can move on to breastfeed your baby. Babies who breastfeed more in control of the feeding process than those fed with a bottle and this can help with appetite control later in life. There is also some evidence that the act of breastfeeding helps to reduce the incidence of ear infections and improves speech acquisition. It is also likely that some nutrient and protective factors within your milk will be reduced if milk is stored for any length of time. Finally, although you may feel confident with expressing and storing your milk, you may find this difficult to maintain once you have your baby at home. Breastfeeding is much easier once you have got it established and will continue to provide your baby with much needed protection after discharge from hospital.
How will I know if my baby is getting enough milk when I am home?
The staff in the neonatal unit or the hospital infant feeding advisor should check that you are confident with breastfeeding before you are discharged home. During a breastfeed, listen for swallowing so you know that your baby is actually getting milk. Changes in your breast before and after a feed will also indicate that your baby is feeding well. Most importantly however your baby should be having at least six wet nappies and one or two soft ‘poo’s’ each day. Please click here to help you identify what should be in a nappy if your baby is feeding well.
Do I need to continue expressing after I am discharged home?
It may be that you do need to continue expressing after feeds for a while after you leave hospital to ensure that your breasts are effectively emptied – any milk expressed can be given as a top-up to your baby to help him/her to continue to grow. As your baby becomes better at feeding you can gradually stop expressing and rely on your baby to regulate your milk supply. Although this can seem like a lot of additional work it is only for a short while and can help with weight gain in the early weeks after discharge from hospital.
What support will I have when I leave hospital?
This will vary from area to area and you will be provided with details of support available prior to discharge. Below is a link to additional national support which you may find helpful
Bliss
NCT
The Breastfeeding Network
La Leche League
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
