AtlantiCare - Benefits of Breastfeeding

BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

Breastfeeding provides more than good nutrition to your baby — breastfeeding also allows you to create a loving bond with your new son or daughter. AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center promotes the practice of breastfeeding to all maternity patients. During your hospital stay, you will have the opportunity to meet with an AtlantiCare certified lactation consultant to learn all you need to know to breastfeed your baby.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Can Be Done By Most Women

Benefits for Baby • Complete nutrition and lifelong protection against many illnesses • Reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) • Nurturing and comfort • Higher intelligence scores

You can breastfeed if you have: • Large breasts, small breasts, or breast implants • Large nipples, flat nipples, inverted nipples, or pierced nipples • Diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, anemia, or thyroid problems Breastfeeding is not recommended for women who are: • Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and/or those who take antiretroviral medicines • Currently using illegal street drugs • Receiving treatment for cancer (chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) • Living with active, untreated tuberculosis

Benefits for Breastfeeding Moms • Reduced risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer • Faster return to pre-pregnancy weight • Promotes bonding with your baby Benefits for Families • Breast milk is free! • Breastfeeding saves time — no buying, mixing, or preparing formula for feeding

Breastfeeding Provides the Best Nutrition • The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for your baby’s first six months; no other food or drink is necessary • Breast milk is rich in nutrients that help protect your baby from diseases and illnesses • Solid food should be started around six months while you continue to breastfeed • The key to making enough milk is by removing it at frequent intervals by breastfeeding or pumping

Ways To Breastfeed

Room-In With Your Baby • “Rooming-in” means a healthy mother and healthy baby stay together in a hospital room for the entire hospital stay Benefits of rooming-in with your baby • Baby sleeps better and cries less • Baby feeds more often and brings in an abundant milk supply sooner • Baby gains weight better • Mother learns baby’s behaviors and is more confident about caring for the baby What about sleep? • Sleep when baby sleeps • Limit distraction and visitors • Research shows that mothers who breastfeed get the same or more rest than mothers who formula feed Feeding On Demand • Breastfeeding whenever your baby shows signs of hunger and letting baby nurse for as long as desired • Early hunger signs are mouthing movements, tongue thrusting, rooting and hand sucking • Crying is a late hunger sign Benefits of feeding on demand • Baby latches on better, feeds better, gains weight better and feels secure • Increases milk making tissue in the breasts • Ensures a good milk supply for months to come

Skin-to-Skin Breastfeeding • Done right after you deliver your baby and as much

as possible during the first few weeks after birth • The baby is placed unclothed on your chest, against your skin, under a blanket Benefits of skin-to-skin breastfeeding • Stabilizes baby’s temperature, blood sugar and vital signs • Reduces baby’s crying • Stimulates milk production • Enourages baby to breastfeed • Gets breastfeeding off to a good start

Breastfeeding Myths and Truths

Myth: Breastfeeding interferes with working. Truth: Moms who work outside the home can still breastfeed. • Breastfeed before going to work and upon returning home. • At work, you can pump every three hours and refrigerate the milk, or place an ice pack with your pumped milk in a cooler bag. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to provide reasonable break time for an employee to express breast milk for their nursing child for one year after the child’s birth each time such employee has need to express the milk. Employees are entitled to a place to pump at work, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from coworkers and the public. Myth: Mothers should not take any medication while breastfeeding. Truth: There are very few medications you cannot take while breastfeeding. • Notify your healthcare provider before taking any medications while breastfeeding. Myth: A mother who smokes and drinks should not breastfeed. Truth: Although AtlantiCare encourages a healthy lifestyle that does not include smoking, if you do smoke, do not smoke while breastfeeding and keep baby away from second-hand smoke (yours or other peoples’). Alcoholic beverages may be consumed on occasion, but if you average two drinks or more a day, do not breastfeed.

Myth: Breastfeeding is painful. Truth: Tenderness during the first few days is common and temporary; if you continue experiencing pain, contact a lactation consultant or your healthcare provider. Myth: Many women do not produce enough milk. Truth: The most common causes of low milk supply are infrequent feedings at the breast or poor latching or positioning.

Myth: Breastfeeding makes the breasts sag. Truth: Pregnancy, heredity and aging cause the breasts to sag, not breastfeeding.

Myth: Formula is as good as human milk. Truth: Human milk is best for babies; the nutrients and antibodies in human milk help fight infection and promote good health.

Myth: If the mother is sick or has an infection, she should stop breastfeeding.

Truth: With very few exceptions, a baby’s best protection against infection or a sick mom is to continue breastfeeding. • Passive immunity is passed on to the baby through breast milk. • Good hand washing is recommended.

Lactation Consultants

Lactation Services

Who are Lactation Consultants? At AtlantiCare our Lactation Consultants are registered nurses who have earned their certification in lactation through the International Board of Certified Lactation Consultants. This means that they have completed additional training to support families with breastfeeding and/or pumping. Breastfeeding and pumping isn’t always easy and when you do need help or have questions, our lactation consultants are here for you. Lactation consultants provide nonjudgmental support for families during their feeding journey: this includes during pregnancy, in the hospital and after delivery. We recognize that every breastfeeding/pumping journey looks different and we are here to support whatever yours looks like!

In-Hospital Lactation Support After delivery, our lactation consultants can help make sure that you are off to a good start. At ARMC we support and encourage breastfeeding in a variety of ways, including encouraging skin-to-skin time with your baby and offering assistance with positioning and latching. On all of our units, we support both breastfeeding and pumping. Our nurses in labor and delivery, mother/baby, and NICU are also trained to assist you with breastfeeding in the hospital and are available for support. We also have hospital grade pumps and supplies available on all of our units. If your child spends time in the NICU, our lactation consultants can help you navigate the best way to provide breast milk to your NICU baby and will continue to provide support for the entire time your baby is in the NICU, even after you have been discharged. Outpatient Lactation Program Outpatient consultations with a certified lactation consultant are offered at select APG OB/GYN offices and are available by appointment. We provide breastfeeding support before and after childbirth on an outpatient basis and will work with you to achieve your breast milk feeding goals. If you have questions before delivery, our outpatient consultants are happy to meet with you prior to baby’s birth. Breastfeeding and Childbirth Education Programs We offer prenatal, childbirth, breastfeeding and baby care classes. Our classes are led by certified educators. Class topics include: breastfeeding, baby basics, childbirth, and having a healthy pregnancy.

FOR MORE INFORMAT ION

AtlantiCare Inpatient Lactation Consultant 609-404-3837

AtlantiCare Outpatient Lactation Consultant 609-404-4898

AtlantiCare Lactation Consultant Appointments and Classes 1-888-569-1000

WIC Breastfeeding Line Contact your local office

The Office of Women’s Health 1-800-994-9662

To learn more, scan the QR Code or visit AtlantiCare.org/BreastFeeding.

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Center for Childbirth 65 W. Jimmie Leeds Road Pomona, NJ 08240

1-888-569-1000 • AtlantiCare.org