Tag Archives: Breastfeeding

Responsive Feeding

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❤️You cannot spoil a baby or child with too much love, comfort and security ❤️

Not only is a baby wanting to feed/suck for comfort biologically normal is it kind of the point.

Did you know that your baby’s feeds are not just for nutrition? Feeding is also a wonderful opportunity to provide love, comfort and reassurance to your baby

However you choose to feed your baby you can do so responsively.

Responsive feeding is a simple as following your baby’s feeding cues rather than a schedule, allowing the baby to set the pace of the feed, and communicating with your baby during the feed with eye contact and gentle and positive conversation.

Skin to skin is a wonderful way to welcome your baby in to the world and give their first feed but it has benefits well in to the Fourth Trimester.

In addition to feeding when your baby shows signs of hunger, breastfeeding mums can also offer the breast when her baby is distressed, fractious, or appear lonely, when her breasts are full or she needs a rest.

Breastfeeding can also help settle a baby if they are baby unwell or provide them with reassurance in unfamiliar environments. The sucking action of feeding is know to act as a form of comfort and pain relief for baby’s having uncomfortable procedures like blood tests and/or injections.

Ask your midwife about responsive feeding, feeding cues, paced bottle feeding and the Fourth Trimester

#BrainDevelopment #Oxytocin #ResponsiveFeeding #BabyFriendly #BuildingAHappyBaby

Ask Us about… Skin To Skin with Partners

Posted in Inspiration & Information by

Did you know that skin-to-skin is beneficial for parents and siblings as well as for your baby?

For the birthing mother skin to skin enhances the release of her oxytocin which in addition to aiding bonding and breastfeeding, helps to contract the uterus after birth, delivering the placenta and reducing maternal blood loss after birth. Because of theses benefits we recommend that birthing mother have at least one hour if uninterrupted skin to skin as soon as possible after birth, ideally with the first feed taking place skin to skin.

If circumstances don’t allow the birthing parent to have skin to skin or once it has taken place we support other care givers and family members ( i.e. The other parent/partner, older siblings) to have skin to skin. Study’s have found higher levels of oxytocin in fathers who had skin to skin with their baby’s shortly after birth compared to those who didn’t.

For your baby skin-to-skin is wonderful way to transition from the uterus in to the world. It had been shown to help your baby regulate their temperature, heart rate and breathing and start to develop their immune system through the colonisation of their skin with friendly bacteria.

Being close to you helps your baby to feel safe, secure and loved. When they feel like this your baby will release the hormone Oxytocin which has a wonderful effect on brain development helping your baby to be happy and grow in to a confident child and later adult.

Ask your midwife about how you can incorporate skin-to-skin in to your birth preferences.

Ask Us About…Positioning and Attachment

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Ask your midwife about how to tell if your baby is positioned and attached well and is getting enough milk.

Good positioning and attachment at the breast is extremely important. Effective attachment ensures that your baby gets enough milk at each feed and that your milk supply is stimulated. It also prevents sore nipples, engorgement, blocked ducts and mastitis.

While you can’t see how much milk your baby is drinking at each feed there are lots of signs that show that your baby is attached well and getting enough milk.

Talk to your midwife in pregnancy about effective breastfeeding or come along to one of our antenatal breastfeeding classes. If you’ve already had your baby talk to your midwife about a breastfeeding assessment.

Click to access otbs_leaflet.pdf

#EveryDropCounts #NoseToNipple #SkinToSkin #Oxytocin #Prolactin #Mastitis #SoreNipples #CHIN

Ask Us About…Hand Expressing

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Ask your midwife about hand expressing.

Did you know that being able to hand express is a really useful skill? Hand expressing can be used to help attachment, relieve engorgement and sort out a blocked duct. It is also the best way to express colostrum (the first milk)

However you are planning to feed your baby, they can really benefit from having colostrum as their first feeds.

Colostrum can be hand expressed in pregnancy and stored in small syringes ready for your baby’s arrival.

Ask your midwife about hand expressing or come along to the Colostrum Collection Drop In on a Thursday afternoon (14:00-16:00) the Parentcraft room at the back of antenatal clinic.

#EveryDropCounts #LiquidGold #Colostrum #EBM #KnowYourBoobs

#AskUs about… Responsive Parenting

Posted in Inspiration & Information by

Babies have Needs not Wants

It is impossible to spoil a baby. They are not capable of learning a routine or self soothing.

Responding to their cues for comfort and food helps them feel secure, even if they continue to cry while being held.

When a baby’s need for love and attention are met they feel safe, secure and happy. This results in the release of Oxytocin and enhances their brains.

Ask your midwife about responsive parenting and responsive feeding.

Click to access happybaby_leaflet-web-2016-2.pdf

Ask Us About… The First Feed

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Did you know that all mothers and babies, regardless of feeding method, benefit from the enhanced oxytocin, closeness and comfort of Skin-to-Skin contact following birth and during their first feed?

Wether you are planning to feed your baby breast milk or formula we recommend that, when ever possible, they experiencing their first feed next to their mothers skin.

Once your baby has had their first feed, after the first hour of life, the baby can share skin to skin cuddles with other close family members.

Did you know that mothers who plan to formula feed can also express and store their colostrum in pregnancy to give to their baby for the first feed?

Ask your midwife about the benefits of skin to skin and colostrum and how to incorporate them in to your birth preferences.

#EveryDropCounts #LiquidGold #Colostrum #Oxytocin #Bonding #BrainDevelopment #BuildingAHappyBaby #SkinToSkin

#AskUs About…Skin to Skin

Posted in Inspiration & Information by

Skin to skin is a wonderful way to greet your baby and help them transition from the uterus in to the world.

Skin to skin has been shown to help your baby regulate their temperature, heart rate and breathing and start to develop their immune system through the colonisation of their skin with friendly bacteria.

Being close to you helps your baby to feel safe, secure and loved. When they feel like this your baby will release the hormone Oxytocin which has a wonderful effect on brain development helping your baby to be happy and grow in to a confident child and later adult.

Skin to skin also enhances the release of oxytocin in Parents . This helps to contract the uterus after birth, reducing maternal blood loss, is essential for breastfeeding and is the hormone responsible for bonding.

Ask your midwife about how you can incorporate skin-to-skin in to your birth preferences.

Click to access happybaby_leaflet-web-2016-2.pdf

Hale Lodge March 2018

Posted in At Home, Uncategorized by

As I embark on writing down my birthing story I stop and look down at the most precious and beautiful sight – my newborn baby girl.

The beginning seems a crazy place to start – to imagine all the steps that led to the ‘welcome to the world’ moment!

I envisioned a Homebirth to be calm, relaxed and empowering and it proved to be that and sooooo much more.

‘Breathe in inspiration and trust yourself, the answer is yes you can’ Continue reading →

Pregnancy Advice Line

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One of the first exciting #BetterBirths developments to come out of the Surrey Heartlands partnership is a brand new dedicated maternity advice line.

Launching on the 9th of April, the advice line will be staffed by experienced midwives who’s responsibility it will be to provide a dedicated service 24/7.

Freeing up other midwives to give clinical care, this phone line will allow maternity clients to access the advice and support they need in a timely way.

This may include answering your pregnancy questions, supporting you at home early labour and arranging transfer to your chosen place of birth and a midwife available 24hrs a day to offer feeding and newborn advice.

Confidence and Sweet Tea

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I feel quite emotional writing this. it’s just over two weeks since my birth and I am quite sad that it is getting further in the past. I don’t think many mums feel this way about their birth experience!

Recently being discharged and meeting my health visitor reminded me of all the reasons I wanted a home birth, with a team that understood and respected my wishes for a calm, relaxed experience.

Each one of the Surrey Hills team was incredible. I am truly grateful for them helping me have the birth experience I wanted. Continue reading →