This document describes alternative methods for feeding breast milk, including cup feeding and expressed breast milk. Cup feeding involves using a cup to allow the baby to drink expressed breast milk at its own pace, with eye contact and a cloth to catch spills. Expressed breast milk can be stored for various lengths of time in different conditions and must be handled hygienically. Alternative feeding methods are indicated when a baby cannot breastfeed effectively or the mother is ill or has other breast issues.

1. Alternative Breast Milk
Feeding Methods.
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2. Objectives:
• To describe the options available for
alternative methods of feeding.
• Teach a mother how to use an alternative
breast milk feeding method.
• To explain how to express breast milk.
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3. Indications for alternative feeding.
Baby
– Not breastfeeding or
suckling effectively in
e.g. ill, cleft lip/palate,
preterm.
Mother
– Is ill.
– Has flat / inverted nipple
or engorged breast.
– Is HIV positive and
decides not to
breastfeed.
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4. • Can hold 50 to 90 mL of
milk.
• Glass or plastic and easily
washable.
• Edge rounded and smooth.
• With a lid for storing
expressed breast milk.
Advantages of cup feeding:
• Simple equipment; easy to
clean.
• Baby can take what it needs in
its own time.
• Mother can do it herself.
• Good eye contact between
mother and baby.
Ideal cups:
Cup feeding.
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5. • Put a measured amount of milk in the
cup.
• Infant should be awake and held sitting
semi-upright on caregiver's lap;
• Put a small cloth on his or her front to
catch drips of milk.
• Touch the edge of the cup to the outer
parts of the upper lip.
• Tip the cup so that the milk reaches the
baby’s lips.
Steps of Cup Feeding...
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6. • Do not pour the milk into the infant's mouth.
• Allow the infant to take the milk himself.
• Feed the infant slowly.
• When the infant has had enough, he/she will
close his or her mouth and will not take any more.
• Do not force-feed the infant.
Pouring the milk into baby’s mouth can cause
aspiration.
Steps Cont’d.
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7. 7

8. 8

9. Storing Expressed Breastmilk.
• Room temperature : up to 6 hours (in very
hot places 1 to 2 hours only).
• Refrigerator : 24 hours.
• Freezer : 2 weeks (-40C) to 3 months (-200C):
• Container should be marked with date and time.
• Breast milk should never be warmed in a microwave.
• Breast Milk should not be refrozen again.
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10. • Alternative methods - indicated in those who
are NOT able to breastfeed effectively.
• Methods available: Cup and expressed breast
milk.
• ONLY expressed breast milk should be fed.
• Ensure hygiene and adequacy of intake while
giving feeds by alternative methods.
Summary.
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