Feeding Document Final V2

Feeding Your New Baby
Congratulations on the birth of your new baby/babies. How you choose to feed your baby is a very
personal decision. At THP, we will support you with once you have all the information necessary to
make informed decisions for your baby.
 Babies should be fed immediately after birth, preferably in the first hour of birth and then each
2 to 3 hours after that. This helps to give them nutrients and helps to maintain blood sugar
levels. If breastfeeding, this frequency stimulates the breast tissue, so it can be programmed to
release milk to the baby at those regular intervals in the amount the baby needs.
 Breastmilk given to a baby will help your baby build immunity, whether you are breastfeeding,
or bottle / formula feeding, as breastmilk contains antibodies.
 Breastmilk increases slowly in the first week based on “supply and demand “. Frequent 2 to 3
hourly feeds or milk removal with hands or a pump help to build milk supply and increase baby’s
appetite and stomach capacity. More frequent demands on the breast tissue help to stimulate
more milk supply.
 Hand expression of the breasts or pumping regularly in the first week, helps to build the breast’s
capacity to make milk long term. These additional volumes of breastmilk can be given via
syringe, spoon, or med cup to baby or later via bottle, as needed (Prior to leaving hospital, any
of these methods can be reviewed by the nurse, as needed).
 Ask your nurse to show you skin-to-skin care and hand expression while in hospital and visit the
link below for more information on hand expression and breastfeeding:
www.firstdroplets.com
 Ask your nurse or the Lactation Consult (LC) to discuss pumping options, as needed.
 Feeding your baby by either breastfeeding or bottle feeding each 2 to 3 hours is essential
for your baby to begin good feeding behaviour, to stimulate your milk supply and to increase
your baby’s appetite. If formula is needed for medical reasons, it will be discussed.
For Formula Fed/Bottle fed Babies:

 Skin to skin care will help baby to adjust to life after delivery. Offer formula/and or expressed
breastmilk (EBM) each 2 – 3 hours with 5-10ml by syringe and increase to 20-30ml bottle, then
increase as per baby’s demand and tolerance up to 60ml or more per feed each 3 hours, by the
end of the first week. These volumes will increase per feed. Often by one month old, most
babies will drink as much a 90 to 120ml per feed each 3 to 4 hours.
 Burp baby after feeds by rubbing his or her back for 5 minutes or until baby burps.
 Review types of formula and how to feed and prepare formula with the nurses in hospital, if this
is your chosen method of feeding. Liquid formula is best for formula fed infants in the first 2
months. If powdered formula is used, it should be mixed properly and in quantity on the
package. Peel Region Community resource for formula feeding and baby care
www.peelregion.ca/parenting/clinic-programs-services/
March 9, 2021
For Breastfed Babies:
 Skin to skin care will help baby adjust to life after delivery. Apply warm compresses to breasts 5
minutes prior to feeds, or hand express and pump after feeds to stimulate milk ducts. Offer
breasts for at least 20min per breast, each 2 to 3 hours or more frequently, if demanded by
baby, as frequent stimulation increases milk supply. If twins, offer 30min per breast to each twin
and rotate sides at subsequent feeds. Try to burp baby after feeds. Breastfed babies may not
always burp.
 Follow your baby’s feeding cues (sucking hands & fingers and behaving unsettled after feeds).
At the end of the week, baby should be able to drink about 30ml or more per breast and will
behave/ look more satisfied at feeds. Good weight gain and output will confirm effective feeds.
Common Breastfeeding Issues

MILK SUPPLY
 If Mom’s milk supply is low, baby may fall asleep at breast, so consider helping baby with breast
compressions at feeds to increase milk transfer. Also feed baby skin-to-skin or undress baby to
awaken baby. Pumping after feeds each 3 hours with a double electric pump for 10-15minutes
will help to stimulate or maintain milk supply.
LATCHING ISSUES
 If nipples are hard for baby to grasp or hold on to, baby may slip off at feeds. Try to stimulate or
roll nipples with your fingers prior to latching to evert nipples. Also, hand express milk to allow
baby to taste the milk and to apply EBM to the nipples for nipple care after feeds.
 Pumping for 5 minutes prior to the feeds may also help to make nipple easier for baby to grasp
 Some babies need a silicone device called a nipple shield, placed over the nipple to help them to
maintain a good latch throughout the feed. A nurse or LC can help you to assess the need for a
nipple shield and assess your nipple shield size.
DISCHARGE INSTRUCTIONS:
 All breastfed babies need to receive vitamin D 400 IU daily by mouth for the first year of life.
Follow directions on the package or as given by the physician or pharmacist.
 If baby is not latching well at breast, offer 30-60ml of Expressed Breast Milk (EBM) or formula
each 3 hours, using paced bottle feeding method, after attempts to breastfeed, until help is
obtained or to maintain baby’s feeding requirements. www.peelregion.ca/parenting/clinic-
programs-services/
 All babies should be seen by doctor or medical practitioner in first few days after discharge to
ensure they are not developing jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes) and are feeding well and
gaining weight properly.
 By the 2nd to 3rd week of life, babies who are feeding well, should return to birthweight or
beyond birth weight.
At THP, we would like to congratulate you on the birth of your baby/babies and hope you will
use this information to support the feeding of your new baby/babies. Beyond the 1st month,
ensure you see your family MD or Pediatrician for continued assessment and for any feeding
concerns.
March 9, 2021

Feeding Document Final V2

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Feeding Your New Baby

For Formula Fed/Bottle fed Babies:

Common Breastfeeding Issues

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