Page 36 - What to Expect

During your stay

Some people believe bonding only happens with breast-fed babies, but
this is untrue. Mothers bond beautifully with bottle-fed babies too.
Infant milk formulas provide all the necessary vitamins, nutrients and
minerals that a new baby needs for healthy growth and development,
though doesn’t contain the protective factors that breast milk contains.
While you still have your baby in the Unit, you can ask for advice about
which formula to use and how to make this up. Staff can provide you with
a current Ministry of Health pamphlet on the correct way of making the
formula. Ask friends, family and nursing staff who have bottle-fed, which
equipment they have found to be appropriate for their babies and why, or
discuss it with the homecare team.

You may want to discuss bottle-feeding and formulas with your baby’s
nurses and doctor, especially if there are family allergies with milk
products.
To feel confident about feeding your baby it is important to understand
the principles of making and storing formula before your baby comes
home. There is an excellent video in the Unit on the principles of making
and storing infant milk formula.

Keeping a record of your baby

It is a great idea to keep a record of your baby’s time in the Unit. The
photographs and tiny foot prints will show everyone later how small your
baby once was.

If you want a record of your baby’s progress through the Unit, try to
take lots of photos, your child will be interested to see them when he is
older. Take pictures of the whole incubator and its surroundings. Some
people hold a pen or a ring next to their baby to show the size difference.
Photographs of significant events such as the first hold, first breast or
bottle-feed, first bath or first hold without attachments are a testimony to
the progress your baby is making.

Remember to note the date on your photos, or note what he was wearing
on the day you took that particular photo so you can match them all up
later. Photographing with a flash will give you better results.

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