One of the most important decisions you’ll make while pregnant is how you’ll be feeding your little one once they’re born. From birth, babies need nutrition, which will come from your colostrum and milk or infant formula.
Breastmilk: Choose Your Pump
Select a breast pump that fits your lifestyle and baby’s needs.
- Hospital-grade electric pumps are designed to pump, store, or feed your milk every 2-3 hours. Parents whose baby is in the NICU or need to pump frequently find these pumps ideal.
- Professional-grade pumps are also designed for those who need to pump 4-5 times a day, perhaps at a workplace or if you need to be away from your baby. Many of these double-breast pumps have hands-free options. It’s helpful to have multiple sets of pump parts to ease your cleaning routine.
- Small electric or manual pumps are reliable for parents who pump occasionally.
Expressed Human Milk
To preserve your expressed breastmilk:
- Develop a routine
- Identify a clean space where you can pump
- You may need a small sink or wipes for cleanup post-pumping
- Pour or pump milk into BPA-free bottles designed to hold breastmilk
- Collect your milk and label the container with the date and time it was pumped
Human milk can safely be stored:
- At room temperature for up to 6-8 hours
- In the refrigerator for 7-8 days
- In a freezer attached to a refrigerator for 6 months
- In a deep freezer for 6-12 months
Human Milk Safety
Do not microwave human milk or infant formula. The microwave can heat the milk unevenly. Overheating human milk can destroy some of its protective proteins. Allow time to thaw milk in a warm glass of water or use a bottle warmer. Human milk can be given to baby directly from the refrigerator and doesn’t need to be warmed.
Bottle Selection
Newborns should feed on demand about every 3-4 hours and take in one strawberry size of liquid at each feeding for the first few days of life. Feed 2.5 ounces of formula for every 1 pound of baby weight per day. You’ll need several plastic bottles, nipples, and tops to keep up with frequent feedings.
Bottle Feeding Tips
- Use easy-to-clean BPA-free bottles
- Wash bottle parts with soap; some bottles and pumps are dishwasher-safe
- Rinse or use wipes if soap isn’t available
- Dry all parts completely
- Inspect bottle nipples frequently for wear and tear
- Use a bottle nipple for the proper rate of flow as follows:
- Slow: Newborn, the first 28 days of life
- Medium: Infants younger than 6 months
- Fast: Infants 6 months and older
- Use bottles designed to reduce air ingestion to prevent colic
- Hold baby’s head higher than their body during feeding to prevent milk pooling in your baby’s mouth, and then flowing into the middle ear. This will decrease baby’s risk of ear infections
- Hold baby at an angle rather than straight up and down so milk only comes out when baby is sucking
- Don’t prop bottles in baby’s mouth; this places your baby at risk of choking, ear infections, tooth decay, and eating more than what they need
- Burp your baby halfway through and at the end of feeding by tapping or patting gently on their back for a few minutes. Some babies may or may not burp with each feeding.
- Toss any unused milk that remains in the bottle at the end of the feeding to decrease the risk of bacterial contamination
Bottle Cleaning
Bottles should be cleaned after every feeding. If your baby doesn’t finish drinking a bottle within 2 hours, throw away the unfinished milk. Germs can grow quickly if human milk or formula is added to a partially used bottle or if a used bottle is only rinsed, rather than cleaned with soap.
Place bottle parts in the dishwasher separately so each piece can be cleaned properly. You may want to use a small mesh laundry bag or closed top-basket so bottle parts don’t end up in the dishwasher filter. The best settings for your dishwasher allow for hot water and a heated drying cycle or a sanitizing setting that can kill potential germs and bacteria.
Prevent Tooth Decay
Your baby’s teeth can decay due to bottle use. This happens when formula, juice or other sweetened liquids are given to infants and allowed to remain in their mouths for long periods. Babies who fall asleep with sweetened liquids in their mouths are at higher risk for tooth decay. Clean your baby’s gums with a clean washcloth after each feeding. Begin brushing your baby’s teeth once the first tooth shows and then schedule baby’s first dental visit.
The checklist for your baby’s arrival has officially been extended! Take a deep breath and proceed one day at a time.
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