Stay Close and Respond: Promote your baby's brain development
Stay Close and Respond: Promote your baby's brain development
- Less fussing and distress
- Sense of love and security
- Fosters bonding between parents and baby
Will not spoil babies
| Stay closer: |
Expectant parents can connect with their baby by:
Detail: Raising a smart and happy kid [P.8-9]
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| Respond earlier: |
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Material on infant feeding recommendations:
- WHO recommendations on infant feeding
- The benefits of direct breastfeeding are not limited to the composition of breast milk
- How to get breastfeeding off to a good start
Detail: Breastfeeding is the Foundation of Life
2 Tips to Increase Milk Production
1. Frequent Feeding:
Responsive feeding
- Recognise baby's early hunger cues
- Feed without restricting schedule or amount
- Your baby will feed at least 8-12 times per day during their first few weeks of life
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Early hunger cues:
- Mouth opening
- Turning head, seeking / rooting
Crying or fussing is a relatively late hunger cue – calm your baby with skin-to-skin contact before feeding
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Early hunger cues:
Continuous feeding day to night
- Feed your baby day and night according to early hunger cues
- Your milk-producing hormone levels are higher at night, hence night feeds help boost milk supply
Detail: Breastfeeding day and night [P.20-22]
Rooming-in
- Keep your baby close in a cot to more easily observe and respond to their cues
Detail: Safe Sleep Sweet Dreams
Offer your breast to meet the physical and psychological needs of mother and child:
- When your breasts feel full
- When your baby needs comforting
Detail: Responsive feeding [P.16-19]
2. Effective Suckling:
Prelude to breastfeeding or expression
- Prompt a good let-down reflex to enable smooth milk flowing during breastfeeding or expression
- Skin-to-skin contact enhances let-down reflex
Detail: Prelude to breastfeeding [P.46-49]
Ensure proper positioning, attachment and suckling
- Effective suckling allows your baby contentment after getting enough milk, while preventing nipple pain or injury
- Try different breastfeeding positions, practise holding your baby close
Detail: Attachment and suckling [P.55-58]
Detail: Breastfeeding positions [P.50-55]
Seek help and "Breastfeeding Coaching" if you encounter difficulties during direct breastfeeding
Milk supply calibration period: the first 3-5 weeks of baby's life (may require days to weeks for effect)
Problems in direct breastfeeding with need of supplementation: consider expressing / pumping breastmilk after direct feeds to increase milk production
Overabundant milk supply: if you excessively express milk more than your baby's daily need, you may experience breast engorgement and pain → down-regulation of milk supply is then necessary
Detail: Overabundant milk [P. 86-87]
In case you encounter any difficulties during breastfeeding…
Community support:
- The Family Health Service of the Department of Health:
- Breastfeeding Hotline: 3618 7450
- Website: http://s.fhs.gov.hk/ng2go
- Join Breastfeeding Peer Support Scheme: 6194 3359
- Contact Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Hong Kong Association Hotline: 2838 7727
Professional support:
- Attend Lactation Clinic of birthing hospital
- Attend Maternal and Child Health Centre
Highly recommended
Detail: Love, Starts from Breastfeeding
Detail: Guide to Bottle Feeding
- How to clean, sterilise, store feeding equipment
- How to prepare infant formula safely
- How to bottle feed your baby responsively
Detail: What You Need to Know about Breast Pumps
- How to choose a suitable breast shield
- Frequency and duration of pumping
- Common mistakes when using breast pumps
