Lolli’s Lesson: Life-changing Tool

The spoon trick is probably one of my favorite things you taught me.——-*Taylor S. (and Maverick)*

Exclusive breastfeeding means your baby is not eating anything other than breastmilk—or colostrum —the very first milk you have in those early days. Getting you off to a great start means we are going to do whatever we can to maintain all of baby’s feedings at the breast and with only breastmilk if possible. There are, of course, certain circumstances when this is just not possible. However, if you are wanting to breastfeed your baby and you have a healthy newborn, we will help make sure your baby is at the breast as frequently as possible. Stimulation to the breast is the key to establishing a full milk supply which happens after you get home with your new baby.

Most full-term newborns will have a great first breastfeeding. This is such a reassuring sign of success for you and your baby! Our next step is a feeding goal of 10-12 feedings in a 24 hour period of time. In fact, if your baby wants to eat, we want you to feed your baby! Each time that baby gets to the breast it is stimulating a milk-making hormone called prolactin. And the more prolactin that is stimulated, the more milk your body will make and the quicker a full milk supply will be established.

Now, let’s talk about what some babies do after that first feeding…

That’s right. They sleep! And they sleep, sleep, and sleep some more. Guess what you can’t get your baby to do when they’re sleeping? Eat! So many of Lolli’s Lessons to come about these early hours and days, but for today I wanted to share with you the tool that changed our lactation practice in the hospital to ensure mom had the stimulation she needs to build her milk supply and also to fill our sweet little babies’ tummies when they really could care less about eating.

Hand-expression and spoon feeding has many benefits for both moms and babies. Sometimes just alleviating the anxiety of a baby who will not wake up to eat is the most benefit of all. Babies are recovering just like moms are after a birthing experience. They want nothing more than to be loved on and to feel secure. Sure, there are some babies who are demanding feedings from the get go—-but if that’s not your baby? It’s ok. We have ways to help!

In our prenatal consults, it is my goal to teach every mother how to hand express. It is not hard! But sometimes the concept feels a little strange—especially if you’ve never breastfed a baby before. The stimulation of hand expressing is instrumental in building a milk supply. In fact, research has shown that the addition of hand expression with the use of a breast pump yields significantly more milk by the end of that first week in a study of moms who were separated from their babies. (such as premature or sick babies in an intensive care unit)

But can a newborn really eat from a spoon? Yes, it is fascinating. Almost like a little kitty lapping up milk. When a baby is sleepy and we have tried all of the tricks to wake them up, I will offer hand expression and spoon feedings as a way to “buy a little bit of time” until your baby is showing feeding cues and we can attempt breastfeeding again.

You may have spoonfuls of colostrum (the first milk) or you may only have a drop. No matter which is the case, it is normal. The importance of hand expression is to make sure your breasts are stimulated to establish a strong and abundant milk supply. It’s just an added bonus when we are able to collect some colostrum on the spoon for your baby. In fact, more times than not, if we have colostrum to give on the spoon, it often stimulates the baby to wake up and remember that breastfeeding is going to be one of his or her favorite activities!

*****it’s important to use a wrapped or clean spoon to alleviate any chance of infection when feeding your baby*******