Lactation: Prenatal Checklist for Feeding your Baby

Learn the benefits of feeding your baby your milk and how it is different than formula.

Read our handout “What Makes Breastmilk/Chestmilk Special?” seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE4148.pdf

Do you want to provide your milk by breastfeeding/chestfeeding? Do you want to pump and bottle feed? A combination? How do you feel about formula use? Discuss with your family and your medical providers ahead of time. Write your thoughts down.

Your birth hospital will have a pump for you to use while you are there, and Children’s has pumps to use when you are with your baby. Ronald McDonald House (RMH) also has pumps you may borrow when you stay there. But you will need a pump for any time you aren’t at one of the hospitals or RMH, whether you are home, or a hotel.

For more information, read our handout “Lactation: Steps for Getting a Pump for Home”
seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE4149.pdf

Watch the following videos before baby arrives to learn why frequent pumping and hand expression right after birth is so important to your future milk supply.

Visit firstdroplets.com/downloads and watch:

• #4 Hand Expression
• #6 Electric Pump and Hands-on Pumping

Practice massage and hand expression while you’re pregnant. (Did you know? Your body makes milk starting in week 20 of gestation!)

Even if your newborn can’t eat right away, ideally you will pump and use hand expression 8 times per day, starting the very day your baby is born. This gives you the best chance at making a “full supply” of milk.

This is a top that holds the pump parts for you, so you have your hands free while pumping.

To learn how to make one, read our handout “Tube Top Instructions” seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE3300.pdf

Download and try different apps for tracking pumping sessions and volumes. You can also use a paper chart or log.

See two paper log options in our handout “Pumping to Start and Establish a Full Milk Supply”
seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE2037.pdf

Find out if you are eligible for WIC, and if so, sign up.

Read our handout “How to Enroll in WIC” to learn more
seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE2150.pdf

Write a birth plan that emphasizes your desire to provide milk for your baby. Consider asking that a nurse or your partner put baby to your breast/chest or hand express for you if you are unable to after the birth.

If possible, hold your baby skin-to-skin and breastfeed/chestfeed within 1 hour of birth.

If holding your baby and feeding is not possible, use your hands or have the nurse or your partner use hand expression within 1 to 6 hours of birth to remove colostrum. Colostrum comes in small drops and is a nutrient-rich, thick, yellow substance that helps your baby build a strong immune system. The first day is often the easiest time to get colostrum from your nipples and expressing it also signals your body that the baby was born and needs to start ramping up milk production.

Every 2 to 3 hours (at least 8 times every 24 hours). Your breasts/chest need to be told to make milk. If the baby cannot do this, use a hospital grade milk pump and hand expression to remove milk.

Collect drops of colostrum in syringes or on swabs and bring them with you to Seattle Children’s. Even if your baby can’t eat right away, colostrum can be used on their lips or inside their cheeks to begin to develop their immune system.

Track how often you are pumping to help make sure you are pumping often enough (8 times every 24 hours) to tell your body to make a full milk supply. You may want to use a pump log or track your pumping in a free app.

Read our handout “Pumping to Start and Establish a Full Milk Supply”
seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE2037.pdf

Lactation Services – lactation consultants, technicians, and peer counselors are available every day of the week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

We have Lactation Meal Program room service for the lactating parent. You may order up to $10 up to 3 times per day for free, if you provide milk at least 4 times per day and your baby is less than 12 months old.

See more information about the Lactation Meal Program at seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE2911.pdf or scan the QR code to learn more.

Having a baby is life changing. Having a baby who needs care at a children’s hospital is not only life changing but can be incredibly stressful and scary. Give yourself grace.