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Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding

The Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that babies exclusively breastfeed/chestfeed or are offered human milk for the first 6 months of life and then continue breastfeeding/chestfeeding while introducing complementary foods until the child is 2 years old or older.

Breastfeeding/ chestfeeding has health benefits for both babies and mothers. Human milk provides babies with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development. Breastfeeding / chestfeeding can also help protect baby and mom against certain illnesses and diseases.

Human milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. As the baby grows, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet the baby’s nutritional needs.

Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, allergies, obesity, type 1 diabetes, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and are also less likely to have ear infections.

Breast milk shares antibodies from the mother with her baby. These antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses.

Mothers can breastfeed anytime and anywhere. When traveling, breastfeeding can also provide a source of comfort for babies whose normal routine is disrupted.

Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother too! Breastfeeding can reduce the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and postpartum depression.

Breastfeeding should start as soon as possible after delivery, ideally in the first hour. If you are separated from your baby due to illness, start expressing your as soon as possible.

 

 

Children admitted to the hospital can absolutely continue their breastfeeding journey. It may look a little different than it did when they were at home, but we will work hard to make sure that we maintain the breastfeeding relationship. Sometimes, when your baby is admitted to the hospital, they may not be able to feed by mouth for various reasons depending on their condition. We will be able to continue our support during this time, and focus on maternal milk supply, pumping and oral immune therapy.

If your baby is not feeding by mouth yet, it is important to create positive oral experiences for them. Providing opportunities for non-nutritive sucking such as a pacifier or soother, allowing them to nuzzle at the breast, or sucking on a clean, upside-down finger in their mouth to soothe all help create a positive oral experience for your baby. You can also gently stroke their cheek and speak to them when they are happy. Providing a drop of breast milk on their tongue, called Oral Immune Therapy and may be a positive oral experience that also allows them to smell and taste your breast milk while also providing them with antibodies from your milk.

Your breastmilk is like medicine for your baby, and it has many properties that help your baby heal, grow and fight infections. Even if your baby is not eating yet, or stops eating for some reason, they are still able to receive a drop of your milk every few hours until they are ready to eat again, we call it Oral Immune Therapy or OIT for short.

Your baby will receive a drop of your milk in their cheek every 2 – 4 hours and we will continue this practice until you are putting your baby to the breast or to bottle a few times each day.

Only your own breast milk will be used for oral immune therapy. Even if your baby is receiving some donor milk (or formula) for feeds, we will only give your milk directly in your baby’s mouth. Even small amounts that you pump will be used to benefit your baby

Kangaroo Care is the practice of skin-to-skin contact between infant and parent. As much as possible, we encourage all parents to provide kangaroo care which involves uninterrupted time for either parent to hold their baby skin to skin. Your baby will be in just a diaper and rest on your bare chest.

 

Benefits for babies

Skin-to-skin or kangaroo care has been shown to have many benefits for your baby. It helps babies regulate their breathing, heart rate and temperature, prepare them for breastfeeding or chestfeeding, manage pain during painful procedures, decrease crying and stress.

Studies show when you and your baby are skin to skin in the same environment, you produce antibodies to microorganisms in this environment. These antibodies appear in your breast milk within a few hours and the immunity is passed on to your baby. It also is shown to help with sleep and brain development

Benefits for parents

The benefits of skin to skin doesn’t stop at baby. Parents can benefit from this wonderful bonding experience. Parents can decrease their stress levels, gain confidence in caring for their baby, improve milk production and ease the transition to breastfeeding or chestfeeding, and decrease the risk of postpartum depression.

To know when your baby is ready to feed, we will look for cues they are ready to feed. When the medical team has cleared your baby to feed, we will look for signs they are ready to feed such as sucking, rooting or opening their mouth, licking, or bringing their hands to their mouth. If your baby is sleepy, there are some ways of gently waking them. It might be necessary to try timing feeds with moments when they are already awake and keen to feed. With time, they will feel hungrier and be keen to feed.

Mothers and their partners can receive conflicting advice from family, friends and health care providers regarding alcohol use and breastfeeding.

The Public Health Agency of Canada and Health Canada recommend that you avoid drinking alcohol if you are breastfeeding, especially when your baby is very young. The safest choice is not to drink alcohol if you are planning to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breastfeeding. However, you do not have to stop breastfeeding if you have a drink once in a while. An occasional small drink can be okay as long as you plan for it carefully.

What does alcohol do to the milk supply? Alcohol decreases the letdown reflex and this could mean the baby gets less breastmilk during feedings. Drinking alcohol does not increase milk production. In fact, heavy drinking may decrease the milk supply.

The younger the baby, the more immature his/her system, and the greater the difficulty in clearing the alcohol from his/her body. Limit alcohol intake, particularly when breastfeeding newborns (first 3 months). Mothers who drink heavily while breastfeeding put their baby at risk for poor weight gain, poor growth, and possible developmental delays

Medications, alcohol and cannabis in breastfeeding (aboutkidshealth.ca)

Very little is known about postpartum marijuana use and safety during breastfeeding initiation. The Canadian Pediatric Society and The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction discourage marijuana use during breastfeeding due to safety concerns related to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes among breastfed infants.

If you find you are having difficulty remembering when you breastfed or pumped last, a pumping/feeding log is a really good tool to keep you on track. Some parents like to use an app on their phones, others prefer to have a paper method.

Breast engorgement is a common condition that many new moms experience, usually during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. Essentially, it's when your breasts feel overly full, hard, and sometimes painful. This can happen because your body is still figuring out how much milk it needs to produce for your baby. In the beginning, it might make more milk than your baby needs, leading to that swollen, tight feeling. 

Engorgement can make it a bit tricky for your baby to latch on properly because the breast is so full and the nipple might be less prominent. It's like trying to take a bite out of a firm apple. But don't worry, there are ways to manage it.

Feed your baby or pump milk regularly for comfort and to help manage breast fullness. Try to feed or pump only as much as needed, as extra feeding or pumping can increase swelling and make engorgement worse. Avoid massaging your breasts, as this can also increase swelling.

To help ease discomfort, apply a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time, as needed. If your health care provider (HCP) agrees, you can also take Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) as recommended or prescribed for pain relief 

Remember, it's a temporary phase, and with a little patience and practice, both you and your baby will get the hang of it.

Mastitis is swelling and inflammation in the breast. It can sometimes include an infection and usually affects one breast at a time. 

Signs and symptoms 

  • Symptoms can start quickly and may include: 
  • Breast pain or tenderness 
  • Swelling in the breast 
  • Redness, sometimes in a wedge-shaped area 
  • Breast skin that feels warm or hot 
  • Fever or flu-like symptoms, such as feeling very tired or unwell 

What causes mastitis? 

Mastitis happens when breast tissue becomes inflamed. This may be caused by an infection or swelling and pressure in the breast. Cracks or damage to the nipple can allow bacteria to enter the breast tissue. 

How is mastitis treated? 

Treatment focuses on reducing inflammation, easing discomfort, and treating an infection if one is present. 

  • Antibiotics: If your HCP suspects a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed as the first step in treatment. Take them as directed. 
  • Feed or pump regularly: Continue your usual feeding or pumping routine for comfort. Avoid extra feeding or pumping to empty the breasts, as this can increase milk production and worsen swelling. 
  • Apply cold compresses: Use a cold compress for 10 minutes at a time, as needed, to help reduce swelling and relieve pain. 
  • Handle your breasts gently: Avoid massage, deep pressure, or unnecessary touching, as these can make swelling and inflammation worse. 
  • Manage pain and fever: If your HCP agrees, you can take Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) as recommended or prescribed. 

If you are breastfeeding, your HCP can help you find a comfortable feeding position and check your baby's latch if needed. If an abscess (a pocket of pus) develops, it may need to be drained by a health care provider. 

When to seek help: Contact your HCP if you have symptoms of mastitis, especially fever or flu-like symptoms. Seek medical advice if your symptoms worsen or do not improve with treatment. 

Resources

Below you will find a variety of resources that will help you if you are breastfeeding or chestfeeding. Chestfeeding is an inclusive term used by some transgender and non-binary parents to describe the process of feeding or nurturing their child. Breastfeeding, chestfeeding and nursing are all terms commonly used to describe this process.  

Resources from Best Start are available in 17 languages. Visit their website to find these breastfeeding resources in other languages.

Ottawa Breastfeeds —  for information on finding a lactation consultant, renting a double electric hospital grade breast pump, well baby drops and more in Ottawa.

Hand Expression - Stanford Medicine

How to establish and maintain your milk supply

 

 

Oral immune therapy

 

 

Kangaroo Care/ Skin-to-skin

 

 

Position and Latch assessment

 

 

Is my baby getting enough milk

 

 

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