Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care Basic Skills Course ...

Reference Manual
• An LBW baby starts to take the milk into his/her mouth with the tongue.
• A full term or older baby sucks the milk, spilling some of it.
• Do not pour the milk into the baby's mouth. Just hold the cup to his/her lips and let the
baby take it him/herself.
• When the baby has had enough, he/she closes the mouth and will not take any more. If
he/she has not taken the calculated amount, he/she may take more next time, or you
may need to feed the baby more often.
• Measure the baby’s intake over 24 hours, not just at each feed.
• Advise the mother to burp the baby after the feed by placing him/her on the shoulder and
gently rubbing or patting the back.
• Encourage the mother to begin breastfeeding as soon as she is ready.
Figure 11.5. Three methods of feeding: A. by cup, B. paladai, or C. by a cup and spoon.
(WHO/IMPAC, 2003)
Storing Expressed Milk
Unheated expressed breast milk should be stored in as cool a place as possible. In general,
unheated expressed breast milk may be stored:
• for 1-2 hours if the ambient temperature is higher than 26 °C.
• for up to 6 hours if the ambient temperature is 26 °C.
• for up to 10 hours if the ambient temperature is between 19 °C and 22 °C.
• for up to 24 hours in a refrigerator.
• for up to 2 weeks in the freezer section of a refrigerator.
• for up to 3 months in a stand-alone freezer.
Note: If the electricity is not stable, expressed breast milk should only be stored for short periods
in the refrigerator.
If the mother has stored the milk either at ambient temperature or in a refrigerator or freezer,
she needs to warm the milk by placing the closed container in a bowl of really warm or hot water
before giving it to the baby and make sure the baby drinks it immediately.
Integrated maternal and newborn care
Basic skills course
135