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Your Breastfeeding Roadmap
Plotting a Course for Success
By Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC
The new hyperbilirubinemia guidelines that many hospitals have adopted can be extremely unfriendly to breastfeeding. Formula and bili lights may be started at the first sign of yellow skin. If your baby is being treated for jaundice, breastfeeding may be jeopardized. It is not healthy for babies to have high bilirubin levels, but a proactive mom can do everything in her power to help prevent her baby's levels from going up by very frequent feedings. This will promote frequent stooling, which will decrease the chances of Baby having to undergo treatment.
Sometimes even the best laid plans go awry. Don't hesitate to communicate to your caregivers that you want your baby to only receive breast milk. If your baby has a medical need for a supplement, it can be easily done with a cup, syringe or spoon. Bottles are unnecessary. The food of choice is breast milk. You can express out a little by hand, or you can get a good breast pump and use it to get a spoonful or two for your little one. The secret to continued success when bumps in the road appear is a positive attitude and determination!
Don't sit back and let someone else take charge of your pregnancy and birth. Cheerfully listen to all available options, ask questions and then make decisions – your own decisions. If you don't know where you're going, you may end up someplace else. Good intentions are only good intentions. Follow them up with actions. Bring your road map. Use it.
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