Baby Friendly Hospital
We are the first BFHI-certified hospital in Singapore. We encourage early breast feeding as well as rooming in the baby with mother as much as possible.
Congratulations if you have decided to breastfeed your newborn as that is the recommended infant feeding method.
Breastfeeding
Remember the 3 E’s to successful breastfeeding.
- Early breastfeeding assures you that you get the best chance possible to establish your breastfeeding relationship with your baby and also your milk supply.
- Everytime breastfeed will ensure that your baby gets to stimulate your milk production.
- Effective breastfeeding means that you have experienced no discomfort or pain when you breastfeed.
Please talk to our trained lactation team if you experience any pain, discomfort or difficulties. They can provide help and advice to ensure that you breastfeed comfortably and properly. It takes time and patience but you can do it with confidence.
If your baby cries a lot, it may not be because he or she is not getting enough milk or that you are not producing enough to satisfy him/her. It is important to ensure that the latch has been comfortable and that the baby has enough urine and stool output. Please contact your lactation support in the hospital when in doubt.
If your breasts become engorged, express some milk to be used later. This will enable your partner to feed the baby too. Some women, despite all their efforts, suffer cracked nipples and infections. Please inform your obstetricians if you are running a fever, have bleeding nipples or painful breasts.
Our complimentary Lactation Consultation Service is offered to our patients in the wards. A consultation charge will be extended to outpatients.
If you wish to speak with a Lactation Consultant on breastfeeding inquiries, you can contact the Breastfeeding hotline (8am – 8pm) at 9722 0376. Personal consultation appointment can also be made at the same number.
Tips on breastfeeding:
- Natural is best – Breastfeeding guide
- Expressing and handling breast milk
Mrs Doris Fok, Home Visit Manager had presented a talk on “Why Breastfeed for So Long” at the World Breastfeeding Week 2007. Please click here to view the presentation material.
Breastfeeding for working mothers
- For working moms who still want to breast feed, how can they express their milk at the workplace as efficiently and mess free as possible? What is the general attitude in Singaporean workplaces towards breastfeeding working moms?
Going back to work should not prevent mothers from continuing to give their babies breast milk. Mothers should breastfeed their babies before leaving for work and as soon as they return home. They should also express their breast milk regularly during working hours to maintain their milk supply and to prevent breast engorgement. Pumping at three-hourly intervals will be ideal but may not be practical so at least twice in a normal 8-hour shift.
Methods for expressing breast milk vary for individuals and mothers should see if they are more comfortable using electric pumps, manual pumps, or direct hand expression although a hospital-grade electric pump may be most efficient.
Other equipment required includes containers, breast pads, an insulated carrier bag with ice packs, and access to a chiller or refrigerator. There is no need to chill the breast milk if it is to be used within 6 hours. Labels to indicate the time and date of expression are a good idea if the milk is not to be used straightaway.
Mothers will have to find a place that will allow them privacy to comfortably express their breast milk. These sessions may take 15 minutes or so. It is thus a good idea to inform their colleagues so that they will not misunderstand the regular breaks taken for pumping and to avoid unexpected interruptions.
- In public places such as restaurants, what is the best procedure to breastfeeding with minimal hiccups or embarrassment?
Being prepared by wearing blouses designed for breastfeeding mothers is a good idea as these will allow mothers to breastfeed discretely wherever they are.
Some mothers use scarves to drape over their babies during breastfeeding for added modesty. Asking restaurant staff for a quiet corner may be another option.
Many public places also have parents’ rooms for breastfeeding and nappy changes.
Whatever they choose to do, women should never be embarrased to breastfeed their babies. Breastfeeding mothers should be secure in the knowledge that they are providing the best possible nutrition for their little ones.
Post-natal care
In the post natal ward, trained nurses assist the mothers in breast feeding their babies. Daily parent-craft classes on the post natal wards teach the patient and any other care giver the necessary things to look after the newborn, namely, bathing the baby, changing the diaper, taking care of the umbilical cord and so on.
Mothers are also taught perineal hygiene and breast care. A counselor from the Psycho-medicine department gives a talk on ‘Emotional health of the mother’.
Neonatal Services
All the babies born in our hospital are checked for inborn errors of metabolism, jaundice as well as any hearing defects.
The new born babies receive vaccination for Hepatitis B and BCG at birth.
Contraception
Family planning advice is given to all the new mothers before they are discharged from the hospital. This is discussed again in detail during the post natal checks in the clinic.
