Preparing to feed your baby begins before they arrive, and having the right information and support can make those early days feel more manageable.
You will find information on local antenatal education packages and online education, along with leaflets and short videos. These cover important topics like how to spot jaundice, how to protect your baby, how to hand express colostrum and feeding your baby in hot weather.
Between 30–40 weeks of pregnancy, your Health Visitor will contact you to arrange a home visit. This is a good chance to talk about how you feel, ask questions, and get ready to care for and feed your baby.
Your antenatal education package
Support for all families
Support for Blackburn with Darwen families
Support for East Lancashire families
Jaundice in newborn babies
Please ensure that your baby is feeding effectively:
A sleepy baby should be woken for feeds as this will help reduce the jaundice and prevent excessive weight loss. New babies should have a minimum of 8 feeds every 24 hours. Please always discuss with your midwife if your baby is sleepy so that the midwife can assess your baby overall and assess feeding. Your midwife will then help put a plan in place. This should not be delayed.
Jaundice is the name given to the yellow appearance of the skin and the whites of the eyes.
Jaundice is very common in newborn babies. About 60% of full-term babies and 80% of premature babies develop jaundice in the first week of life. Jaundice reaches its peak at about four days of life and then gradually disappears in most babies by the time they are two weeks old. Some babies may need more help to feed effectively and may need treatment for their jaundice. Jaundice does not necessarily mean your baby is ill.
Jaundice can occur within the first 24 hours after birth, but this is rare. If this happens it is important that a Neonatal Doctor sees your baby. Normally this will not be a problem as you will still be in hospital.
If your baby is at home, it is important you tell your midwife or doctor.
This leaflet will help you to:
- Understand what jaundice is and what causes it
- Why treatment is important for some babies
- Understand normal wet and dirty nappies / colours
For further information please see:
This is the NCT information.
This is the NHS information.
5 ways to protect your baby
Skin to skin contact |
Skin to skin contact protects your baby against infection as baby will be covered with good bacteria from your skin. This good bacteria transfers via breastmilk too, so skin to skin contact is even more important if mother is not breastfeeding to ensure baby receives this early protection. It also helps babies to adjust better to life outside the womb, it stimulates digestion, regulates temperature, breathing and heart-rate and relaxes both mother and baby. |
Colosturum |
Colostrum is the first milk that your body makes for your baby. It protects against infections and acts like your baby's first immunisation. Colostrum contains antibodies to develop your baby’s immune system and Vitamin A which protects your baby’s eyes. It is recommended that all babies receive colostrum either by breastfeeding, by expressing or colostrum harvested antenatally. |
Hand washing |
Infections are caused by bacteria or viruses. You can reduce the risk by washing your hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and hot water, particularly if you have been changing nappies, or work with or care for small children. You can also reduce the risk by not sharing utensils. |
Vaccines |
Whooping cough is a serious infection which causes long bouts of coughing and breathlessness. If you are vaccinated in pregnancy (after 16 weeks gestation) the immunity you receive will be passed to your baby through your placenta. The RSV vaccine is offered from 28 weeks of pregnancy onwards to help protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) which is a common cause of coughs and colds. These vaccines are highly effective at protecting your baby in their first few weeks of life prior routine immunisations at two months of age. |
Vitamin K |
Vitamin K helps blood to clot which reduces bleeding. Babies have low stores of Vitamin K which may put some babies at higher risk of bleeding. This is rare but can be serious. This can be prevented by giving your baby extra Vitamin K after birth. Ask your Midwife for more information. |
Antenatal hand expressing of colostrum
Informtion leaflet - Antenatal Hand Expressing of Colostrum :: East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Hot weather, infant feeding and water
Fully breastfed babies do not need water until they are on solid foods. Your baby will need to breastfeed more than usual as they need extra drinks and breastfeeding parents should keep hydrated for their own wellbeing.
Click here for a poster.
Click here for guidance and recommendations on giving water to your baby.
Click here for FAQs on the recommendations for giving water during infancy.
Professor Amy Brown's videos for new parents
Visit Professor Amy Browns webpage - Click here to view the Animations