Feeding the baby is a big chance for the baby and mother to bond and is a huge source of nutrition for the baby. The best way to do it is the breast milk. However, it might not be possible to breastfeed due to multiple reasons. Maybe because of the mother’s health condition, difficulties with nipples, the mother is away, the mother is not able to feed the baby directly. It is necessary to feed the baby with expressed milk.
This is the Dad’s chance to bond with the baby. You as a dad can feed the baby with expressed milk.
Know that the breast milk can only be stored for a short period.
Use expressed milk as soon as possible because the baby’s nutritional needs change daily and the breast milk changes as well to meet the baby’s needs. So, to ensure that the baby is getting all the required nutrients, use the expressed milk earlier irrespective of the expiry date.
| Freezer (Approx. -18oC | Refrigerator | |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh Breast Milk | 3 Weeks | 24 hours |
| Thawed breastmilk but not warmed | Do not refreeze | 24 hours |
- Do not refrigerate the breast milk again after warming it once.
- Do not microwave the breast milk or the nutritional value will be lost.
- Do not preserve the breast milk at room temperature.
- Regardless of the expiry date, use expressed breast milk as soon as possible.
Try and hold the baby just like your wife does while breastfeeding
Sit and cradle your baby. Make sure that the baby’s body is in a straight line and not curved just like your wife does.
Feed your baby from the bottle the same way that he would feed on the mother’s breast.
Make sure that the baby’s lips are turned outwards while bottle-feeding just like breastfeeding. Also, the baby should latch on to the nipple with the mouth wide open. Make sure that the baby firmly and deeply latches on. If he doesn’t, remove the nipple and try again. Moreover, check that the temperature is not too hot before handing the bottle to the baby. Spill a few drops on your wrist or the inside of the elbow to check if it is hot. It should feel a bit warm but not too much. If it feels too hot, keep the bottle in cold water to cool it down a bit. Do not tighten the bottlecap too much and do not let the baby feed without adult supervision.
Burp the baby after feeding him
After bottle feeding, burp the baby just like the mother would do after breastfeeding. Try to keep the baby in an upright position on your shoulder until she burps. Do not force the baby to burp if he is not able to. Remove any leftover milk from the bottle.
