Assisting mothers to breastfeed
Giving effective breastfeeding help
- accepting what a mother thinks and feels
- recognising and praising what a mother and baby are doing well
- giving practical help
- giving a little relevant information
- using simple language
- making one or two suggestions not commands
- plan care with mothers involvement
- goal is to fulfil the mothers needs for
Hands off techniques
H.O.T. (Hands Off Technique) refers to health care providers hands off, not the mother’s. The goal is to teach the mother and baby to breastfeed independently.
The HOT technique empowers mothers by enabling them to breastfeed their babies with minimal intervention, while still receiving maximum care and assistance.
- Rather than ‘doing’ the attachment for mother, educate and facilitate the mother and baby to attach independently
- use teaching aids such as videos and posters
- demonstrate attachment and hand expressing using cloth breast and doll
- teach mother to recognise baby’s feeding cues
Feeding according to need (baby led feeding)
Usually breastfeeding is initiated in response to feeding cues from the baby. When a baby is fed according to need there are no restrictions on:
- frequency of feeding
- duration of feeds
- night feeds
Infant Feeding Cues
Early
- wiggling, moving arms or legs
- Rooting, fingers to mouth
Mid
- Fussing, squeaking noises
- Restless, crying intermittently
Late
- Full cry, aversive screaming pitch
Feeding cues poster (PDF, 988KB)
When breastfeeding doesn’t work out
- Affirm the value of breastfeeding for whatever length of time mother breastfed, even one feed is of value.
- Acknowledge any grief she is feeling.
- Let the mother know that maintaining her close relationship with her baby is most important – and express confidence in her ability to continue to give her baby her best.
- Be tactful. Keep the relationship positive.
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