Question: Is it necessary to feed the child at both breasts? How long should a feed last?
Whether or not both breasts must be emptied while feeding, will depend on the child’s hunger and the amount of milk. If the milk is flowing adequately, the child may be satisfied with a feed from just one breast. If not, the child may wish to continue sucking and appears to ask for more. It should be put to the other breast immediately. A child is usually satisfied after 10 minutes at each breast. Some babies seem to suck greedily and quickly swallow the milk like little gluttons. Their hunger is appeased in less than 10 minutes.
If, even after feeding for 20-25 minutes, the child appears dissatisfied and hungry or continues to make sucking sounds or cries at being parted from the nipple, you may presume that lactation is inadequate. Do not be tempted to start on top milk in such a case. Rather, increase the frequency of breast feeds. The frequency of sucking and the periodic emptying of breasts facilitate the flow of milk. Instead of keeping the child for a long time at the breast and giving widely spaced feeds, reduce the interval between the feeds, making them shorter and more frequent. This serves the dual purpose of fulfilling the child and increasing the flow of milk.

As soon as the head of the infant is delivered, wipe its eyes clean with sterile saline. Maintain its head lower than the body to allow drainage of mouth secretions and keep the infant lower than the mother until the cord is cut. This way the baby will get more blood and will be stronger.
• Suck infant’s throat with sterile catheter.
• At birth the cord pulsates and it, is fat and blue, wait till it becomes thin and white and stops pulsating.
• Clamp the cord between two artery forceps and cut it with sterile scissors or tie it in two places with ribbon and cut between the ties with clean unused razor blade under aseptic precautions. Always cut cord close to the body of the baby, leaving about 2 cm attached to the abdominal wall. Cover the cut end of the cord with clean beta dine soaked swale on Tincture Benzoicco.
• Baby should cry immediately if its condition is satisfactory. If it does not, it might need resuscitation. Rub his back with towel or a cloth. If still does not breathe then suck the mucus from nose and mouth with suction or clean cloth wrapped around your finger. If he does not breathe within one minute, then start mouth to mouth breathing at once. When spontaneous breathing is established, place infant in a prewarmed cot with head one side tilted down to allow drainage of secretions from respiratory tract. In many hospitals all infants are given one dose of 1 mg of vit. K to prevent hemorrhagic disease of new born but remember, if you give milk in higher doses it can lead to severe jaundice.