BREASTFEEDING IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Complications may have arisen during the birth, or sickness later on may make you feel like you cannot breastfeed. In most cases it is particularly good for both you and your baby to start and continue to breastfeed. If you have any concerns, it is a good idea to see a lactation consultant or your doctor to check that breastfeeding is possible.
However, there are other times when you may feel you don’t want to feed in public, you have a short supply, or you just want to go out for some time away. It is still possible in all these cases for your baby to get your breast milk. Breast pumps are very economical compared to the cost of purchasing alternative food for your baby. With a breast pump you can express between feeds to build up your supply, and use that breast milk for supplementary feeding, or store for times when you can’t be with your baby. NUK has a range of breast pumps to suit every need, from Breast Shell Sets for collecting leakage from one breast while breastfeeding from the other, and manual pumps to the latest Double Electric Pumps for very efficient pumping when a lot of breast milk is required.
WHAT ABOUT CLEANING?
Newborn and young babies are at risk of infection because their immune system is not fully developed yet. The Ministry of Health advises that you must wash and sterilise all feeding equipment, including breast pump parts until your baby is at least 3 months old. A dishwasher can be used to clean feeding equipment but will not sterilise it as they do not reach high enough temperatures. Sterilisers can be used for all baby products that baby will fit in their mouths, like teething rings and comforter toys. Steam sterilising is particularly safe as the generated heat kills 99.9% of all harmful germs, with no harmful chemicals. The NUK Electric Steriliser is particularly useful as all the sterilising prongs can be removed from the base, for larger things such as soft toys, breast pump parts and even household items.
During the current lockdown, we have found a new use for our NUK Baby Bottle Cleanser. We have started using it for washing our fruit and vegetables when we get them back from the supermarket. It still acts as a soap, but is natural-based, and thus wholly unlike a conventional cleanser and completely safe. It has no colouring or fragrance added and is swiftly biodegradable, so residue washes away quickly leaving no trace of the cleanser. It is also ideal for washing breast pump parts, toys, teething rings and other items that baby “explores” every day with their hands and mouth.
SICKNESS IN THE HOUSEHOLD
Babies and young children get sick often – it’s a normal part of childhood. They will usually get better after a few days. However it is important to check for danger signs, and if in doubt phone Healthline (New Zealand) on 0800 611 116 or Healthdirect (Australia) on 1800 022 222 or take your child to their doctor or practice nurse.
A baby’s temperature is one of the signs to look out for, as babies cannot regulate their temperature like adults. The NUK Flash Thermometer uses infra-red technology for non-contact hygienic measurement. It will alert parents to the baby being too hot or cold. A fever beep will sound at the forehead temperature over 37.5 degrees.
Most essential NUK items are available at pharmacies or online during the lockdown.
For further help and advice and to view their full range of products, visit the NUK website.
