Feeding Plan

Sometimes a baby does not get enough milk from the breast. Feeding can help.

What is it?

This feeding plan is used when the baby is not getting enough milk from the breast alone. Some reasons for this are:
- Mom doesn’t make enough milk yet.
- The baby doesn’t feed well for some reason.
- Baby just needs more calories.

Feed the baby at the breast.
- Work with your lactation consultant to get the best latch possible! Some babies need to use a nipple shield for a short time. This is especially true if they are early, are waiting for a tongue tie revision, or mom has very inverted nipples.
- Do breast compressions while the baby is feeding. This helps move lots of milk.
- Often, we can add extra pumped milk or formula with a tube at the breast. This helps keep baby’s interest at the breast and avoid a bottle.
- Babies on this plan should only stay on the breast for 15 to 20 minutes each feed. This keeps them from using all their energy eating.
Pumping.
- After baby has finished drinking at the breast, with or without the supplement, mom needs to pump for 15 minutes. This will drain the breasts and increase milk supply.
- After pumping, hand expression helps get every last drop and boost supply.
- Save every hard-earned drop of milk. You can give it to baby at the next feeding.
Supplementing.
- You may do this along with time at the breast. Or you may feed baby by syringe or bottle after baby is done eating at the breast.
- This is a great time for a support person to feed the baby while mom pumps, if that’s what mom wishes.

The entire plan should take less than an hour. Both mom and baby need to rest between feedings.

It’s very important for mom to have help. A feeding plan can be a lot of work, but it’s also a good tool to help baby growth and increase mom’s milk supply. A good support system can help this be a success.