The prospect of coming into hospital is an emotional time if you have a young baby. You may feel more anxious about your baby than yourself and have concerns about how to continue breastfeeding. Support from family and friends will help to minimise separation from your baby. Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) that you may find useful.
听
Can I continue to breastfeed my baby during my stay?
You will be encouraged to continue breastfeeding your baby as you feel able. Privacy can be provided by drawing your bed curtains. Alternatively, a member of staff may be able to suggest a more private place on the ward if temporarily available (e.g. a side room). If you require to express, we will support you with this by lending you a breast pump.
听
Will my baby be able to stay with me?
If you are admitted to our postnatal ward your baby will be able to stay with you providing that you are well enough to care for her/him. Cots and changing facilities are available. Should you be admitted to a specialist ward we will make every effect that your baby can be kept with you. If this is not possible your baby will be welcome to visit you for feeds. It is advisable to ask a family member or friend to be on hand to support you in looking after your baby during your stay or visits.
听
How can I prepare for my hospital admission if I am breastfeeding?
听If your admission is planned it is useful to consider your goals for breastfeeding in relation to her/his age, the expected length of your stay and the help available from family and friends. To reduce complications for you and your baby and avoid early cessation of breastfeeding, you may consider providing expressed breast milk for your stay.
If your admission is unexpected and/or you are very sick, you may find that a temporary interruption to breastfeeding may be necessary. This will only happen following a discussion with you.
听
What expressing equipment do I need during my stay?听
Please bring your own breast pump with sterile sets and bottles with you. After each expressing the sets and bottles will need to be sterilised. If you do not have a breast pump, then the hospital will be able to lend you an electrical breast pump with a sterilising set and bottles. Please ask a member of staff to arrange this for you, by contacting the Infant Feeding team. All bottles of EBM should be labelled with your name, date of birth and date and time of expressing. EBM can be stored at room temperature for 4 hours in hospital. If you don鈥檛 anticipate feeding your baby within that time it should be taken home in an insulated freezer bag with an ice pack to keep it cool and then stored in the fridge or freezer. If EBM cannot be taken home within 4 hours, it may be stored in the designated fridge on the postnatal ward or the neonatal unit (maximum 48hrs) until collected by family or friend member. Please let a member of staff know if you wish to do this.
听
If I have surgery how soon after can I start breastfeeding?
Should you require a general anaesthetic please tell the anaesthetist that you are breastfeeding. As soon as you are awake, alert and able to breastfeed your baby it is safe to do so as the drug does not remain in breast milk for long. It may be useful to ask at your pre-op appointment how you will expect to feel after surgery. Your condition and level of pain may play a large part in whether you will be able to breastfeed. Knowing what to expect will help you decide how you want to manage breastfeeding afterwards. If you find your normal feeding position is too uncomfortable it may be useful to try other feeding positions e.g. lying down or underarm. If this is not possible, resume breastfeeding as soon as you are able to.
听
If I am unable or choose not to breastfeed during my admission, should I express my milk?
Expressing will help to maintain your milk supply ready for when you resume breastfeeding your baby and prevent mastitis. It is recommended that you express your milk as often as your baby normally feeds or when you feel particularly full or uncomfortable. Should you choose to stop breastfeeding it is best that you gradually slow your breast milk supply by either expressing milk 鈥檛o comfort鈥� each time your breasts are very full or by dropping one feed/express every other day. Abrupt stopping can cause intense discomfort in the breast and may put you at increased risk of mastitis with flu-like symptoms.
听
Is it safe to continue to breastfeed if I have an infection?
If you are admitted with an infection, it is particularly beneficial for you to continue to breastfeed; your body鈥檚 first response to illness is to make specifically designed antibodies that pass into your breast milk to protect your baby. By the time you start to feel ill your baby has been exposed to and is already receiving protection against your infection. If your baby does become ill, breastfed infants almost always gets a milder case than those already weaned.
听
Is medication safe when I鈥檓 breastfeeding?
Most drugs only pass into your breast milk in small amounts and/or are poorly absorbed by your baby and so are unlikely to affect her/him. Make sure that medical staff know that you are breastfeeding, and your doctor will, whenever possible, prescribe medications that are compatible with breastfeeding. Your doctors will discuss medication choices with the pharmacy department to ensure that appropriate medication is offered to you, and that your breast feeding journey can continue.
If you are taking certain antibiotics your baby may have green, runnier stools and be a little more unsettled than usual - this will resolve when you finish your course of treatment. Your baby may also notice a change in taste in your breast milk.
听
Can I continue breastfeeding whilst having investigations?
During your stay you may undergo some investigations - most will not affect your milk. However, some special X-rays may require that you stop breastfeeding for a short while. The radiologist will advise you if this is the case. You may like to express and store breast milk beforehand to provide milk for your baby during this time. After the procedure you may be advised to express and discard your breast milk until you can safely breastfeed again.
听
Can continuing to breastfeed help my recovery?
Yes. Research suggests that breastfeeding mothers are known to have fewer infections, less tiredness and anxiety together with an increased feeling of well-being.
听
I have been exclusively breastfeeding; will my baby take a bottle whilst / if we are separated?
Research suggests that most breastfed babies take a bottle easily regardless of age. You may find that your baby is more likely to take a bottle from someone other than you when offered before your baby is too hungry. Different feeding positions, warming the bottle teat to body temperature by running cooled boiled water over it or dipping it in your breast milk may help. You may find it useful to try a bottle before your admission if possible.
听
Might my baby refuse the breast when we are reunited?
Most babies accept feeding from the breast after separation, some willingly, some with a little coaxing. If your baby is reluctant at first, with patience, gentle persistence, and lots of time together your baby is likely to be persuaded to breastfeed again.
If you would like more information or discuss your options on continuing your breastfeeding journey, then please contact the infant feeding team on 07775027151.
Email听sft.infantfeedingco@nhs.net听
Our staff at Salisbury District Hospital have long been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment they provide for our patients and for their innovation, commitment and professionalism. This has been recognised in a wide range of achievements and it is reflected in our award of 月色直播 Foundation Trust status. This is afforded to hospitals that provide the highest standards of care.
