BCIT NSPN 7150 The Breastfeeding Experience
| 2025/2026 Study Guide & Exam Prep
Three Rules of Breastfeeding - correct answer1- feed the infant
2- move the milk
3- help the dyad learn to breastfeed
Strategies to Meet Rule #1 (feed the infant) - correct answerIncrease frequency and
duration of feedings (including at night).
Improve position and latch (if it is a problem).
Provide skin-to-skin contact to conserve energy for the infant.
Help the parent identify the infant's cues and promote the release of oxytocin and
letdown reflex.
Stimulate the infant to ensure wakefulness during feeds.
Do breast compression while breastfeeding.
Offer both breasts at each feeding.
With an older infant, strategies such as a quiet environment, relieving pain from
teething, or different feeding positions can help the infant feed better at the breast.
For Infants Needing Supplemental Nutrition What is Recommended? - correct
answerPreferences for supplementation are:
Expressed milk: It's best if the mother can express some of her milk to give to the infant.
Pasteurized donor milk (PDM): See if donor milk is available from a milk bank.
Artificial milk (formula): This should be used if expressed or PDM is not available.
What Factors Influence how Much Milk the Infant Needs? - correct answer-The Length
of Time Since Birth
-Gestation of the Infant
-Health and Birth of the Infant
-How well the infant is feeding
-How well the infant is feeding in the first few days
How does How Well the Infant feeds effect the amount they need to eat? - correct
answerSleepy and fussy infants are difficult to feed. It is helpful to put the sleepy infant
in skin-to-skin contact with the mother, and some mothers find that placing fussy infants
in a sling or carrier is helpful
How does Gestational Age effect the amount of milk the baby needs? - correct
answerLate preterm infants may need more milk than they are able to get from the
breast due to their low energy stores and high energy demands (Lowdermilk et al.,
2020). Ideally, the mother of a late preterm infant will start hand expression after
feedings as an "insurance policy" to make sure she takes care of Rule 1.
, How does the Health and Birth of the infant effect the amount of milk they need? -
correct answerThe infant with low blood sugar (that is, mother has diabetes, infant
required resuscitation, or IUGR) should be breastfed a small amount of colostrum often
to resolve hypoglycemia. If the blood sugar is still low or unstable, the infant will require
more food. The mother can start with expressed colostrum if available, or small
amounts of pasteurized donor milk or artificial milk (remember the size of the baby's
stomach). These infants should be assessed carefully for their weight losses (if >7%),
decreased milk intake, poor output, etc. (Lowdermilk et al., 2020).
How does breast filling in the first few days effect the amount the baby needs to eat? -
correct answerLactogenesis II occurs 2-3 days postpartum, and mothers feel this as the
milk "coming in" (NSPN 7150, Module 3).
If the infant is getting part of the feeding directly from the breast, it is important to
include that in the calculation of how much to give additionally. Every infant is different.
The infant's behaviour (interest and ability at the breast, signs of satiation) and clinical
picture (output, the pattern of weight loss and gain) will help determine how much to
supplement.
When does Lacotgenesis II occur? - correct answerLactcogenesis II occurs typically
around day 2-3 post partum and the mother may feel this as her "milk coming in"
When the infant cannot breastfeed or need supplemental nutrition what other methods
of feeding are appropriate? - correct answer- dropper/ syringe
- spoon
- cup
- feeding tube at the breast
- bottle
What methods of feeding are appropriate for small amounts of expressed colostrum/
milk in the first few days postpartum? - correct answer- droppers
- syringes
- spoons
When is a feeding tube at the breast an appropriate method of supplementation? -
correct answerA feeding tube at the breast for supplementation is only effective if the
infant has the ability to latch effectively
To help parents make informed decisions about feeding their baby it is important to
discuss: - correct answerHow to establish and maintain milk production while
supplements are provided
The importance of breastfeeding for the infant, mother, family, and community
Health consequences of not breastfeeding for mother and infant
Risks and costs of supplements and how to safely prepare, use, and store them
The difficulty of reversing the decision once breastfeeding is stopped
| 2025/2026 Study Guide & Exam Prep
Three Rules of Breastfeeding - correct answer1- feed the infant
2- move the milk
3- help the dyad learn to breastfeed
Strategies to Meet Rule #1 (feed the infant) - correct answerIncrease frequency and
duration of feedings (including at night).
Improve position and latch (if it is a problem).
Provide skin-to-skin contact to conserve energy for the infant.
Help the parent identify the infant's cues and promote the release of oxytocin and
letdown reflex.
Stimulate the infant to ensure wakefulness during feeds.
Do breast compression while breastfeeding.
Offer both breasts at each feeding.
With an older infant, strategies such as a quiet environment, relieving pain from
teething, or different feeding positions can help the infant feed better at the breast.
For Infants Needing Supplemental Nutrition What is Recommended? - correct
answerPreferences for supplementation are:
Expressed milk: It's best if the mother can express some of her milk to give to the infant.
Pasteurized donor milk (PDM): See if donor milk is available from a milk bank.
Artificial milk (formula): This should be used if expressed or PDM is not available.
What Factors Influence how Much Milk the Infant Needs? - correct answer-The Length
of Time Since Birth
-Gestation of the Infant
-Health and Birth of the Infant
-How well the infant is feeding
-How well the infant is feeding in the first few days
How does How Well the Infant feeds effect the amount they need to eat? - correct
answerSleepy and fussy infants are difficult to feed. It is helpful to put the sleepy infant
in skin-to-skin contact with the mother, and some mothers find that placing fussy infants
in a sling or carrier is helpful
How does Gestational Age effect the amount of milk the baby needs? - correct
answerLate preterm infants may need more milk than they are able to get from the
breast due to their low energy stores and high energy demands (Lowdermilk et al.,
2020). Ideally, the mother of a late preterm infant will start hand expression after
feedings as an "insurance policy" to make sure she takes care of Rule 1.
, How does the Health and Birth of the infant effect the amount of milk they need? -
correct answerThe infant with low blood sugar (that is, mother has diabetes, infant
required resuscitation, or IUGR) should be breastfed a small amount of colostrum often
to resolve hypoglycemia. If the blood sugar is still low or unstable, the infant will require
more food. The mother can start with expressed colostrum if available, or small
amounts of pasteurized donor milk or artificial milk (remember the size of the baby's
stomach). These infants should be assessed carefully for their weight losses (if >7%),
decreased milk intake, poor output, etc. (Lowdermilk et al., 2020).
How does breast filling in the first few days effect the amount the baby needs to eat? -
correct answerLactogenesis II occurs 2-3 days postpartum, and mothers feel this as the
milk "coming in" (NSPN 7150, Module 3).
If the infant is getting part of the feeding directly from the breast, it is important to
include that in the calculation of how much to give additionally. Every infant is different.
The infant's behaviour (interest and ability at the breast, signs of satiation) and clinical
picture (output, the pattern of weight loss and gain) will help determine how much to
supplement.
When does Lacotgenesis II occur? - correct answerLactcogenesis II occurs typically
around day 2-3 post partum and the mother may feel this as her "milk coming in"
When the infant cannot breastfeed or need supplemental nutrition what other methods
of feeding are appropriate? - correct answer- dropper/ syringe
- spoon
- cup
- feeding tube at the breast
- bottle
What methods of feeding are appropriate for small amounts of expressed colostrum/
milk in the first few days postpartum? - correct answer- droppers
- syringes
- spoons
When is a feeding tube at the breast an appropriate method of supplementation? -
correct answerA feeding tube at the breast for supplementation is only effective if the
infant has the ability to latch effectively
To help parents make informed decisions about feeding their baby it is important to
discuss: - correct answerHow to establish and maintain milk production while
supplements are provided
The importance of breastfeeding for the infant, mother, family, and community
Health consequences of not breastfeeding for mother and infant
Risks and costs of supplements and how to safely prepare, use, and store them
The difficulty of reversing the decision once breastfeeding is stopped
