The classes are for people having their babies at Stoke Mandeville Hospital or have a homebirth booked with BHT.

They also run one face-to-face class every month on the third Thursday of the month. This takes place in the afternoon at Hampden Way Family Centre, Wycombe, HP13 7TJ. Additionally on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at Best Start Family Hub Elmhurst, HP20 2DB.

Responsively feeding means you’re responding to your baby’s feeding cues and your own, ensures that you have a good milk supply and that the baby feels loved and supported.

Babies sometimes have large gaps between feeds. If your baby goes for more than 3 hours without showing feeding cues, we recommend that you wake them and offer the breast .

A baby should feed a minimum of 8 to 10 times in 24 hours, with feeds lasting between 5 and 40 minutes. We always recommend that you offer the second breast once your baby has come off the first one.

• hold your baby close, supporting their neck, shoulders and back

• allow your baby to tilt their head easily and avoid holding the back of their head (head free)

• keep your baby’s head and body in a straight line

• start with your baby’s nose opposite your nipple to allow your baby to tip their head back with a wide mouth. Bring them swiftly to your breast allowing a deep latch

• make sure you’re in a comfortable position so you can sustain the latch for the full
  feed.

• Remember snacks and a drink!

How do I know if my baby has latched effectively?

If any areola is visible, it will be above the baby’s mouth. You’ll also see:

your baby’s mouth is wide open
their lower lip is turned out
their chin is touching your breast.

When your baby releases the breast, the nipple remains the same shape as the start of the feed.

You should hear a 2:1 suck and swallow pattern after you have your initial let down.

If you have any pain, your nipples are sore/bleeding or pinched this could be a sign that your baby hasn’t latched properly. Contact your midwife/health visitor or access the Infant Feeding Team at BHT for further support.

Benefits of colostrum harvesting

Being able to hand express colostrum will give you the confidence to provide your baby with those golden drops. Expressing colostrum antenatally ensures that your baby will have access to your breast milk ensuring the protective factors, hormones
and friendly bacteria from birth.

Expressing antenatally is particularly useful for babies at risk of low blood sugars once they are born.

Find out more about protecting your baby from low blood glucose.

Braxton hicks sensations

You may find when you express your womb goes hard then relaxes.

These are ‘Braxton Hicks’ contractions. Don’t worry unless it begins to feel like period-type cramping or mild labour pains.

This is extremely rare, but if it happens, stop and rest. If you’re concerned contact labour ward triage on 01296 316103.

Safe storage labelling

You can store expressed colostrum:

• in the fridge for 5 days

• in the freezer for 6 months

Label each syringe with:

• your name, date of birth and NHS number

• the date and time of when colostrum was expressed.

Ask your midwife for a colostrum harvesting pack.

If you’ve made the choice to bottle feed, Stoke Mandeville Hospital asks that you bring in your own formula. They have sterilising facilities if you want to bring in powdered milk. You can buy starter packs available from most supermarkets and pharmacies.

Bring a bottle brush if you want to use the sterilising facilities.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital does not supply formula in the hospital unless it’s clinically needed.

When using formula remember to:

• sterilise all equipment that comes into contact with formula milk

• use a first stage formula for babies up to one year

• make up the formula according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Never add more or less than stated by the supplier.

• use tap water instead of bottled water to prepare formula feeds. Bottled water can contain high levels of sodium.

A healthcare professional will ensure you know how to sterilise and make up feeds safely before you leave the hospital.

Referrals for this procedure must come through the specialist infant feeding team.

BFI have created a great visual for you to understand if breastfeeding is going well.

We encourage you to contact your midwife/health visitor if there are signs your baby isn’t feeding as effectively as possible.

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You can then scroll down to see information, resources, and the support available to you in relation to each topic.

Following support from your midwife or health visitor, they may refer you to the specialist infant feeding clinic for more complex infant feeding issues. You can also refer yourself.

These clinics are for babies up to 28 days old.

Specialist infant feeding clinics (by appointment only)

Mondays at the antenatal clinic, Waddesdon Wing,  Stoke Mandeville Hospital.

Thursdays at the antenatal clinic, Wycombe Hospital and Best Start Family Hub Elmhurst.

How to book an appointment

Email bht.infantfeeding@nhs.net

Or

Call 01296 315076

Tell them:

• your name, telephone number and NHS number

• the date your baby was born or your due date if you’re pregnant

• a brief outline of the support you would like

Aylesbury: The Elmhurst Best Start Family Hub 

9.30am to 12noon every Monday.

High Wycombe: Hampden Way Family Centre

9.30am to 12noon on the third Thursday of each month.