Most
physicians and parents agree that breastfeeding is the best method of infant
feeding, yet many parents choose to bottle-feed their babies or stop
breastfeeding all together after a brief period of time. Frequently their choice
is based upon too little information, incorrect information (also see our
26 Myths You Might Have Heard), or too little support.
If you ask any breastfeeding mother what is the one thing they recommend, they
will all say...KNOWLEDGE IS KEY!! Most women are well prepared for birth.
They've read all the books, talked to experts and attended classes to prepare
themselves and their baby for a good, safe birth experience, an experience that
only last a few hours (hopefully!). But most women haven't spent 30
minutes preparing for the feeding and care of their infant, an experience that
lasts years! In order for breastfeeding to be successful applying this same kind of preparation is
important. There's plenty of help available to you and you should take advantage
of the expert advice, counseling, and group meetings that are available. For
example, you can:
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Talk to your obstetrician and pediatrician.
They can provide not only medical information but also encouragement and
support when you need it most.
-
Talk to your prenatal instructors and attend a
breastfeeding class. Breastfeeding classes are usually offered by your local
hospital. Attending a class can be very beneficial on the fact that they
provide you with an actual visual aid of proper latch-on which is critical
to your success in breastfeeding.
-
Read all that you possibly can about
breastfeeding. The more you read the more comfortable and confident you will
be when you to breastfeed your baby for the first time.
For other helpful resources see our list of
Breastfeeding Resources.
Helpful Illustrations and Checklists
The following are aids that you might find helpful
when preparing to breastfeed.
Build Your Support
Not only
obtaining the correct information is important to successful breastfeeding, but
having strong support is vital. One of the main reasons that women state that
stop breastfeeding is the lack of support. The most important person when it
comes to support is your significant other. Although the ending decision to
breastfeed is your choice you will need his support especially when times get
rough. There are men who believe that breastfeeding is a waste of time or
ignorantly believe that it is a sexual thing. You can help build his confidence
and support by informing him of all the wonderful
benefits that breastfeeding provides. Try having him read your books and
pamphlets or speak with the lactation consultant with you. Get him involved and
before you know it he will be just as proud and supportive as you need him to
be. For more information on what role your significant other places in
breastfeeding, please read our Fathers and
Breastfeeding section.
Here is a list of other ways that you can build
your support.
-
Talk to women who have or are breastfeeding
successfully and ask their advice. Sisters-in-law, cousins, office mates,
yoga instructors, fellow congregants at your place of worship are precious
resources.
-
Talk to members of the
La Leche League or other
mother-to-mother support groups in your community. La Leche League is
worldwide organization dedicated to helping families learn about and enjoy
the experience of breastfeeding. Ask your pediatrician for information about
how to contact La Leche League.
-
Talk to a lactation consultant. If you can't
afford one, try speaking to someone at your local WIC office.
WIC is a major supporter of
breastfeeding and provides assistance for breastfeeding mothers. This
includes providing working and student mothers with free or low-cost manual
and electric breast pumps.
-
When making the decision to choose your child's
pediatrician is extremely important to select a doctor who is knowledgeable
and supportive of breastfeeding. There is nothing worse than having a
pediatrician who is clueless about breastfeeding (just because they are
doctors does not mean the know about breastfeeding) and at the first sign of
difficulty suggests that the only cure is formula.
-
If you plan to return to work while you are still working, negotiate with your employer
while are pregnant to arrange a pumping schedule and an appropriate place to
pump.
One thing that you will need to keep in mind while
trying to build your support system is that you may encounter those who are
ignorant and negative towards breastfeeding. It is important that you have
knowledge of your legal rights and know the
many ways to handle such ignorance. Your
support system are great resources for this issue.
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