Mother and child care

Relaxation Guide

Comfort and relaxation is key

1. Ways to improve milk production

• Ensureyourbabyhasacomfortablepositionandlatchesontothebreastwell5,6

• Frequentfeedingshelpstimulatemilkproduction,whichisespeciallyimportantinthefirstfewweeks5

• Increasecomfortwhenbreastfeedingorpumping,particularlyafteracaesareansection,byusinglotsofpillows,anddon’tbeafraidtousepainmedicationasadvisedbyyourhealthcareprofessional7

2. Achieving successful milk expression when returning to work

• Findacalm,relaxingspace,withahome-likeatmosphere,asthishelpstoincreasemilkvolume8,9

• Try10–15minutesofbreathingexercisesorlisteningtomusictohelpyoutofeelrelaxed10,11

• Expressingmilkwhileclosetoyourbabycanhelpwithmilkproduction;ifthisisnotpossible,haveaphotoorpieceofyourbaby’sclothingtolookat12

• Whenyoufirsttrytoexpressmilk,youmayonlygetafewdrops,butdopersevere–themoreyoupractice,theeasieritgets12

3. How best to breastfeed outside of your home

• Thinkaheadanddecidewhereyouwillbemostcomfortablebreastfeeding

• Considerwhatyouarewearing

• Anursingorsoft,non-underwiredbrathatcanbepulledupordowncanmakethingseasier

• Rememberthatbreastfeedinggivesyourbabythebeststartinlife

• Thereisnoneedtofeelembarrassed;youshouldfeelproudofdoingwhat’sbestforyourbaby

Yourbreastmilkprovidesyourbabywithallthenutrientsneededforhealthydevelopment.Breastmilkhelpstoprotectyourbabyfrominfections,aswellashealthissueslaterinlife1,andthereforetheWorldHealthOrganizationrecommendsthatmothersexclusivelybreastfeedtheirbabyupto6monthsofage2.

Becauseeverymotherandbabyareunique,itcantaketimetofindabreastfeedingtechniquetosuityouboth3.Bothphysicalandpsychologicalcomfortarekeyingredientsofsuccessfulbreastfeeding4.ThefollowingguidecreatedbyPhilipsAventprovidesasummaryoftipsandinformationtohelpyouonyourbreastfeedingjourney.

“Breastfeeding

gives your baby the best

start in life”

european foundation forthe care of newborn infants

PhilipsAventisapremiumpartnerofEFCNIandsupportstheEuropeanStandardsofCareforNewbornHealthproject

#relax4moremilk

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© 2015 Koninklijke Philips N.V. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Trademarks are the property of Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Royal Philips) or their respective owners.

www.philips.com

References:1.VictoraCG,etal.Lancet2016;387:475–490;2.WorldHealthOrganization,UnitedNationsChildren’sFund.Globalstrategyfor

infantandyoungchildfeeding2002[Online]availableat:http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/global_strategy/en/[AccessedJune2016];

3.WorldHealthOrganization.Exclusivebreastfeeding2016[Online]availableat:http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/exclusive_breastfeeding/

en[AccessedJanuary2014];4.O’BrienM,etal.JHumLact2009;25:55–63;5.AmirLH.AustralianFamilyPhysician2006;35;687;6.HauckYL,

etal.IntBreastfeedJ2008;3:20;7.AskDrSears.Breastfeedingaftercaesareansection2016[Online]availableat:http://www.askdrsears.com/

topics/feeding-eating/breastfeeding/rightstart-techniques/breastfeeding-after-cesarean-section[AccessedJuly2016];8.YuRJ,etal.Philips

ResearchShanghai,2012;9.UedaT,etal.ObstetGynecol1994;84:259–262;10.PhilipsAventRelaxationStudy.Dataonfile;11.KeithDR,etal.

AdvNeonatalCare2012;12:112–119;12.TheBreastfeedingNetwork.Expressingandstoringbreastmilk2009[Online]availableat:https://www.

breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/pdfs/BFNExpressing_and_Storing.pdf[AccessedJuly2016].

Comfort meter quiz PhilipsAventiscommittedtosupportingmotherswhochoosetobreastfeed,andhasawiderangeofbreastfeedingsolutionsfocusedonpromotingcomfortandrelaxation–providing more milk to more babies.

Feelingrelaxedandcomfortablewhilebreastfeedingiscrucialandwillallowyoutogetthemostfromyourbreastfeedingexperience.Tosupportyouinreachingyourbreastfeedinggoals,wehavedevelopedthisshortquizwhichwillhelpindicatejusthowrelaxedandcomfortableyoufeelwhilefeedingyourbaby.Basedonyourresponses,yourhealthcareprofessionalwillbeabletoofferyoupracticaladvicetoenhancethebreastfeedingexperienceforyouandyourbaby.

1. How would you rate your stress levels on a daily basis?

2. How enjoyable do you find your experience when breastfeeding?

3. How painful is your experience when breastfeeding?

4. How comfortable do you feel breastfeeding in public spaces?

5. How often do you have time to pursue leisurely activities away from your baby?

6. When it comes to breastfeeding, how supported do you feel by friends, family and healthcare professionals?

ResultsLow score (mainly scored 1 or 2)

Alowscoreindicatesyoumaybeexperiencinghighstresslevelsanddiscomfortwhilebreastfeeding.Youmaywanttoaskyourhealthcareprofessionalforadviceonmaintainingamorecomfortablepositionwhilstbreastfeeding,aswellasrelaxationandbreathingtechniquestohelpyoufeelmorerelaxedbreastfeedingyourbaby.

Medium score (mainly scored 3)

Amediumscoreindicatesmoderatestresslevelsanddiscomfortwhilebreastfeeding.Youmaywanttoaskyourhealthcareprofessionalforadvicetoenableyoutomaintainamorecomfortableandrelaxedapproachtobreastfeeding.

High score (mainly scored 4 or 5)

Youareclearlyfeelingrelaxedandcomfortablebreastfeeding;however,donothesitatetoaskyourhealthcareprofessionalforadviceifneeded.Stressandanxietylevelscanchangeandyoumayencountertimeswhenyouneedadditionalsupport.

1 2 3 4 5

Extremelydistressed

Fairlydistressed

Neutral Fairlyrelaxed Veryrelaxed

1 2 3 4 5

Veryunenjoyable

Fairlyunenjoyable

Neutral Fairlyenjoyable

Veryenjoyable

1 2 3 4 5

Verypainful

Fairlypainful

Neutral Fairlypainless

Painless

1 2 3 4 5

Veryuncomfortable

Fairlyuncomfortable

Neutral Fairlycomfortable

Verycomfortable

1 2 3 4 5

Never Rarely Neutral Often Veryoften

1 2 3 4 5

Neversupported

Rarelysupported

Neutral Fairlysupported

Verysupported

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