Birthlight Happy Infant Feeding

A facilitating kit for happy infant feeding by Francoise Barbira Freedman

Transcript

1. Happy Infant Feeding: a facilitating kit Françoise Barbira Freedman University of Cambridge and Birthlight Trust
2. Minutes after Birth ?  Infant feeding is the most frequently identified concern of new mothers  Promoting ‘happy feeding’ is a priority not only for the healthy growth of infants but also as a foundation of long term ‘mother-infant mutuality’
3. Scientific evidence proves benefits of breastfeeding  Benefits to the baby  Benefits to the mother  Hidden benefits to the mother  Benefits to the mother-infant pair  Benefits to society
4. Guidelines for best practice and manuals are widely available Evidence for the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding World Health Organization 2004  Sufficient evidence exists for the effectiveness of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, to fully justify extending the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, which is based on them, to all maternity facilities.
5. Guidelines for best practice and manuals are widely available Evidence for the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding World Health Organization 2004  Renewed efforts should be made to strengthen those steps which relate to education, guidance and support for mothers before and after delivery, including after discharge from hospital, as they are the most clearly effective interventions.
6. Yet our cultural trends show a different picture  ‘In our culture, parenting expertise is supposed to arrive with the baby, especially if you are the mother’ (B. Bennett 1991)  Postpartum care is ‘the Cinderella of maternity services’  ‘Informed choice’ may create more uncertainty at a vulnerable time
9. Message in a bottle!  Breast is best but bottles are more practical?  Most research on postnatal care show that new mothers are confused by conflicting professional advice on infant feeding  New mothers stop breastfeeding because of discomfort and loss of maternal confidence
10. Macro facts - Micro processes  A  B  C
11. Quote by Michel Odent “…where breastfeeding is concerned, experts can only give information, or advice, or care. But breastfeeding mothers need more than that. They first need a shared self-confidence.”
12. Encouragement to breastfeed can respect maternal choices  As early as 1984, Flint argued that the establishment of breastfeeding depended on the mother’s confidence in herself before and after the birth.
13. Research points to combined interventions  Worldwide, investment in education and mothers’ support has proved cost- effective as a medium and long term health intervention.  It was found that cost-effectiveness was highest when programmes included the removal of formula and reduced the use of medications during delivery.
14. Several sensitive periods need specific approaches  In late pregnancy: women express interest and concern but preoccupation with the birth prevails  The first hours after birth  The first three weeks after birth  8-12 weeks after birth These different stages are not often addressed due to fragmentation of care
15. The first hours after birth are crucial…  It is essential for mothers and all health professionals to be aware that analgesia and anaesthesia during labour may be associated with problems in establishing breastfeeding, so that extra assistance and support can be provided. Rajan 1994
16. It is EASE and MUTUAL COMFORT we are after!  It’s hard to relax with a stranger…  Mother knows best but when her mothering has been interfered with, simple steps can help mother and baby to actively bond with each other  Fathers also can take this role lovingly and competently
17. Quote by Ashley Montagu …”The mother needs the baby quite as much as the baby needs the mother. The psychophysiological benefits which mother and child, the nursing couple, reciprocally confer upon one another in the continuing symbiotic relationship are vitally important for their further development.”
18. Let’s turn the bag inside out and start packing again  Ease in attaining intimacy and physical contact with baby facilitates feeding, which promotes greater intimacy  Mothers who enjoy feeding their babies feel better adjusted to their maternal role  At Birthlight, our focus is the mutual comfort and enjoyment of mother and baby, before and after birth
19. The case for body-based practices  Rooting behaviour  Skin to skin contact  Touch needs  The pleasure of sleep  A hormonal involvement…oxytocyn
20. Birthlight: a holistic approach from conception to toddlers  Taking the best of traditional practices…  In the light of scientific evidence  Adapting traditional practices to the needs of new parents and urban life- styles in post-industrial societies
22. Technique alone does not reach the heart
23. New(old) techniques to better reach the heart through the brain Source: K.Uvnäs Moberg & D.K. Prime Infant VOLUME 9 ISSUE 6 2013
24. A kit for ‘active bonding’  Irrespective of the mode of feeding, Active Bonding can best support mums in our present culture  Acceptance before best practice  Do relaxed mothers have an advantage?  Feeding must be placed in the context of crying, sleeping and nurturing skills. What does it take to have a bonny baby bang on the weight charts?
25. Breathe & Relax Easy Stretch, Smile & Sing  Breathing awareness connects us to ourselves and helps us change our moods  Posture awareness ensures we do not tense muscles, particularly when holding babies  Relaxed stretches facilitate breathing, posture and relaxation together  Then mothers can feel at ease, smile at their babies and, why not, sing to them…
26. Mother’s positioning comes first  Lower back support: where to place the cushion for best results  Spinal alignment  Tips for relaxing shoulders  Effortless comfortable cradling: relaxed support of the infant’s head and spine  If mum is well positioned, then she can help baby’s position as it suits them both
28. Tone from within  Let the outbreath draw in the abdos  Connect abdominal and lower back muscles  Add a pelvic floor connection  Enjoy the calm power of deep breathing  Energise and heal the Hara after birth
29. ‘Instant relaxation’  Here Now  Releasing tension with the out-breath  ‘Emptying the gaze’  Discovering the calming power of 3 full breathing cycles  Memorising the feeling of letting go  Relaxing from ‘minding’
31. When mothers have to bottle feed, Active Bonding provides tools for communication in a non-judgmental way. Attentive breathing and joint relaxation during feeds have positive effects on the vagal systems of both mother and baby.
32. ‘Deep rest’  Changes in sleep patterns are very challenging and contribute to sleep deprivation and increased anxiety  Accessing ‘deep rest’ makes up for disturbed sleep and facilitates naps  ‘Deep rest’ activates the feedback loop of positive hormones  Brains need ‘deep rest’ for growth and repair
34. Relaxed holds  Touch and movement are what babies need most  This applies to feeding as most instruction is static  We need: gentle body rocking relaxed cradling walking relaxation with newborns  For essential sensory integration
37. Mini-Moves around Feeding  Winding  Soothing  Inducing deep sleep after feeds
38. Helping with the discovery of mutual rhythms  Body-based individual interactions between parents and babies are facilitated by rhythm awareness  Walking relaxation is very effective  Taking babies dancing can be a daily treat in the smallest of rooms
39. Simple stretches for mums’ alignment and toning  Yoga postures and movements start from the pelvis and lower spine  Micro-movements elongate the deep layer of skeletal muscles  Simple yoga-based stretches get best results before and after birth, whatever women’s state of fitness  Common ailments are often relieved
41. Self-nurture Self-mothering  Support is the most important factor for the establishment of successful breastfeeding  But support is a rare commodity for new parents in our dislocated societies. ‘Creating community’ is a goal to work for and a rare achievement to celebrate  Yoga-based practices can help new mothers make the most of resources at hand by developing a relaxed, positive outlook
42. Discovering and enjoying mutuality  Mutuality, not dependence  Communication  Growth and expansion from day to day  Feeds as a special together time  Time well spent for both mum and baby  Managing ‘bad days’ and crises: feeding for healing and recovery
43. Success Story
44. ‘Joint relaxation’  Babies are our teachers  Babies are excellent yoga teachers  By observing how babies relax, we can learn to relax  Then we are able to communicate relaxation to babies when needed  Joint family relaxation to create a store of wellbeing together
46. Implementing an integrated approach to postnatal care  Midwives  Health visitors  GPs  NCT educators and counsellors  La Leche League support groups  Private lactation consultants  Baby Massage and Baby Yoga instructors  Touch Therapists working with infants  Cranio-sacral osteopaths
48. Colic
49. ‘No guilt, no shame, no blame’ The Birthlight kit 1. Helps mothers continue breastfeeding 2. Helps mothers relactate 3. Can ease mixed feeding 4. Can support mothers who express milk 5. Facilitates ‘active bonding’ for all, irrespective of their choice of infant feeding patterns
50. ‘Infant Joy’ is so simple when it’s there is a human right can be achieved now ‘Ananda’