

Breastfeeding & Newborn Assessment (BANA) Clinic
What this program does...
This program provides:
- Outpatient breastfeeding support and inpatient assistance dependent on the demands within the clinic
- Infant feeding and jaundice assessment including blood work if required
- Ongoing breastfeeding support for up to 3 weeks
- Support with developing safe infant feeding plans
- Community supports to help you continue your breastfeeding journey
- Support through education to promote the Baby Friendly Initiative throughout the hospital
How this program helps...
- We recognize that newborn assessment and well-baby is closely linked to early breastfeeding success
- A warm and caring environment where clients are supported to achieve their feeding goals
- We help you build confidence in your breastfeeding
- We provide lactation support if needed to breastfeeding mothers in any other area of the hospital
- Open 7 days a week by appointment only: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- We see all babies born at St. Joe’s or discharged from our Special Care Nursery up to 3 weeks of age, no referral is needed
What to expect during your visit…
- Baby should come to the appointment hungry, try not to feed your baby for 2-3 hours from the start of your appointment
- Your baby will have a head-to-toe assessment and weight check
- A breastfeeding assessment will be completed
- A feeding plan and instructions will be provided with follow-up appointment if needed
Additional Resources:
- Breastfeeding Matters (booklet, available in 18 languages) Breastfeeding Matters - An Important Guide to Breastfeeding for Women and their Families - Best Start
- Breastfeeding Your Early Preterm Baby (booklet, available in 18 languages) Breastfeeding Your Early Preterm Baby - Best Start
- Breastfeeding Your Late Preterm Baby (booklet, available in 18 languages) Breastfeeding Your Late Preterm Baby - Best Start
- Best Start Breastfeeding Resources (website) Breastfeeding Archives - Best Start
- Droplet (information and videos about breastfeeding) Droplet (firstdroplets.com)
- Expressing and Storing Breast Milk (booklet, available in English and French) Expressing_and_Storing_Breast_Milk_EN_2018 (beststart.org)
- Blocked Ducts (information sheet, available in English and French) Blocked_Ducts_EN_2018 (beststart.org)
- Breast Infection (Mastitis) (information sheet, available in English and French) Breast_Infection_Mastitis_EN_2018 (beststart.org)
- Thrush (information sheet, available in English and French) Thrush_EN_2018 (beststart.org)
- 10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby (booklet) 10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed your Baby - Canada.ca
- 10 Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding (booklet) Ten Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding - Canada.ca
- Things You Need to Know About Cannabis, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding (information sheet) CannabisPoster_EN.pdf (pregnancyinfo.ca)
- Informed Decision Making for Formula Feeding (information sheet, available in 20 languages) B43-E.pdf (beststart.org)
- Safely Preparing Infant Formula for your Baby (video available in English) Safely Preparing Infant Formula for your Baby | Best Start
- Infant formula: What you need to know (booklet, available in 18 languages) B19-E.pdf (beststart.org)
- Tips Sheets: Safely Preparing Infant Formula for Your Baby (information sheets, available in 20 languages) Tip Sheets: Safely Preparing Infant Formula for your Baby - Best Start