Breastfeeding Your Healthy Newborn while at the Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women

The Importance of Breastfeeding 

The decision to breastfeed your baby is an important one. Breastfeeding gives babies the best start in life. Breast milk has everything a baby needs to grow and stay healthy.  

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that your baby receive only breast milk for the first six months. During this time, your baby does not need water or juice. After six months, you will start offering solid food. The AAP recommends continuing to breastfeed while giving solid food until your baby is at least two years old. 

Breastfeeding is Good for Babies and Parents 

Breast milk helps your baby’s brain grow and develop, and it protects them from many sicknesses, including ear infections, colds and diarrhea. Breastfed babies have less chance of having asthma, diabetes (type 1 or type 2) and becoming obese. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).  

Breastfeeding mothers have less risk of breast and ovarian cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. 

Direct Breastfeeding 

Direct breastfeeding – when you feed your baby straight from your breast – is especially important in the first weeks of breastfeeding.  

• Babies – not breast pumps – are best at removing colostrum, which is the first breast milk you make. 
• Direct breastfeeding helps you make a good supply of milk for your baby and allows the baby to control how much milk they take.  

Baby’s First Feeding during Your Maternity Stay at the Pavilion for Women 

Your nurse or a lactation consultant will help you with your first feeding. 

Step 1: Hold your baby skin-to-skin and wait for hunger cues

• Right after birth, we will place your naked baby on your bare chest for at least an hour. This is the perfect place for your baby to rest and make a gentle transition to life outside your uterus. Skin-to-skin holding keeps your baby warm and calm and helps steady their breathing and heart rate.   
• When your baby is ready to eat, they’ll show hunger cues such as opening and closing their mouth, sticking out their tongue, smacking their lips or bobbing toward the breast.  

Step 2: Position and attach your baby

• There are many good positions for breastfeeding. We’ll help you find a comfortable position. Be sure your baby’s tummy is facing your tummy so that they are in a straight line and don’t need to turn their head to get to the breast.  
• Position your baby’s nose in front of your nipple. Tickle your baby’s bottom lip with your breast. When they open their mouth wide, bring your baby into your breast – quick and close. With a deep, effective latch you’ll feel a strong tugging and see your baby’s ear, or the muscle in front of the ear, move as they feed.  
• If it feels like your baby is biting or pinching your nipple, gently break the suction by pressing on your baby’s cheek and try again. 

Step 3: Feed your baby

• Your baby may feed for a short or long time, anywhere from about 5 to 30 minutes or more. Let your baby keep feeding until they come off the breast on their own, turn their head away or fall asleep. 

What to Expect While Breastfeeding During Your Hospital Stay 

Your baby will be sleepy, especially throughout the first day

After their first feeding, it’s common for a baby to sleep deeply for several hours as they recover from birth. Throughout your hospital stay, when more than three hours have passed since your baby’s last feeding, take them out of their basinet, unswaddle them, and hold them skin-to-skin. This allows your baby to smell your milk and may help them wake up and want to feed. Watch for hunger cues and feed your baby every time you see the cues. After the first day, expect to feed your baby 8 to 12 times every 24 hours.  

Most babies are fussy and want to be held and fed often on the second night of life

This is normal and not a sign of a breastfeeding problem, but the second night can be exhausting because of this! Between feedings, either parent can hold the baby skin-to-skin to calm and comfort them. When you become sleepy, keep your baby safe by placing them in their basinet or turning their care over to another adult. You may wish to have a well-rested helper stay with you on the second night to allow you to get some rest.  

You may not feel milk in your breasts

Your early milk, called colostrum, comes in small amounts, and is exactly what your baby needs. During their first day of life, babies need less than a teaspoon of colostrum per feeding. Though that’s a small amount, colostrum is full of protein and antibodies. This gives your baby nourishment and protection. Even though your body is making all the milk your baby needs, it’s common not to feel milk in your breasts for the first few days. Most people will start to feel milk by day 3, 4 or 5.  

It’s normal for your baby to lose weight

We’ll keep track of your baby’s weight to be sure they stay within the healthy range. You’ll track your baby’s wet and poopy diapers. Together, weight and diaper counts give you a clear sign that your baby is getting the milk they need.   

There’s a learning curve

When we learn anything new, it takes time and practice. Breastfeeding is no different - it’s a skill that you and your baby need to learn. Our bedside nurses have special training around breastfeeding and will help you learn. We also have lactation consultants (nurses who specialize in breastfeeding) onsite 24/7. 

Avoid Unnecessary Formula Supplementation 

Supplementation means giving extra milk in addition to breastfeeding. If your baby needs supplementation for medical reasons, your care team will guide you.  

Donor Breast Milk 

When supplementation of your breastfed baby is necessary, Texas Children’s offers pasteurized donor breast milk. Your milk is ideal, and when more milk is needed, we recommend using donor milk, which is a safe, easy-to-digest choice.  

Formula provides nutrition, but it doesn’t have all the benefits of breast milk like antibodies that protect your baby from sicknesses and special fats that help your baby’s brain develop. 

• Formula proteins are larger and harder to digest.  
• When a baby has formula, they spend less time at the breast, which can cause lower milk supply.  
• Early bottle use can make it harder for babies to learn to breastfeed. Your care team will help you decide what is best for your situation.   

Wait until Breastfeeding is Going Well before Offering a Pacifier 

In the first three to four weeks of breastfeeding, it’s best for your baby to suck only at your breasts. Giving a pacifier too soon can reduce time at the breast, which may decrease your milk supply. 

After breastfeeding is going well, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends offering a pacifier at naptime and bedtime to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Exclusive breastfeeding also reduces the risk of SIDS, and the longer you breastfeed, the greater the benefit. 

Signs breastfeeding is going well include: 

• Baby is breastfeeding at least eight times every 24 hours. 
• Baby is growing and gaining weight while eating only from your breasts. 
• Baby seems relaxed and satisfied after feedings. 
• You are not feeling pain while breastfeeding. 
• Your breasts feel lighter and softer after breastfeeding.  

How to Get Free Breastfeeding Support from the Pavilion for Women After Discharge 

Breastfeeding Friends Free Virtual Weekly Group 

Baby Bistro at the Pavilion for Women - If you deliver at the Pavilion for Women, your first outpatient visit with our lactation consultants is free. Call 832-826-8881 to schedule.