Your time in the postpartum unit of the hospital can be pretty powerful—you’ll be bonding with your baby and learning how to breastfeed. Make the most of your hospital stay so that you feel confident and secure when you take your new baby home.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Try to keep hospital visits to a minimum so thatyou and your newborn can bond and establish eating and sleeping patterns. There will be plenty of time later for everyone to get to know your baby; the hospital stay is prime time for you to get to know her first!
- Ask questions! Don’t be afraid to ask the nurses, lactation consultants and pediatricians plenty of questions about baby care, baby behavior and breastfeeding. That’s what they’re there for. Use these trained professionals as a resource.
- Avoid using pacifiers unless absolutely necessary. They can interfere with breastfeeding. (A pacifier may be used on limited occasions for pain relief, during procedures when a baby can’t be held or breastfed.)
- Be confident that you can latch your baby without help before you leave the hospital. If you’re still unsure about this, get the contact information for a breastfeeding support person who can help if and when you’re having trouble.
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This message is not intended to provide individual medical advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have about your health or medical condition, your breastfeeding issues and your infant's health. Never disregard, avoid or delay contacting a doctor or other qualified professional because of something you have read in our emails, webpages or other electronic communications.
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