How to Get Your Breastfeeding Relationship Off to a Good Start

Many women plan to breastfeed their children yet are stopped by obstacles that they did not expect. Support for breastfeeding is rarely found today, and what is out there is often tainted with myths and inaccuracies. This can cause some women to give up before they have really had a chance to begin. Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your child, and offers many benefits for mom too. Breastfeeding is natural but it does not come naturally to some, if you are planning to breastfeed here is a how to guide that will increase your chances of being successful.

The first thing you should do is find support before the baby is born. Find local groups such as the La Leche League that specialize in supporting breastfeeding. Seek out other mothers who have breastfeeding experience to share. Here is a tip: find mothers who are either still breastfeeding or who weaned their children recently, they will often remember the experience and have more recent advice than a mother who stopped nursing years ago. Look online as well. There are many great online communities that help women and provide support. If you do not have local support an internet group may be even more important for you.

Next you should talk with you pediatrician about breastfeeding. When you are interviewing prospective pediatricians for your child ask them their stance on breastfeeding. I have been shocked time and again to hear mothers talk about the incorrect information they were told about breastfeeding from their child's doctor. Make sure you find a doctor that follows the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines on infant nutrition. Also, look around the waiting and exam rooms. Pens, clipboards, posters, and decorations are often provided to doctors by companies as free marketing. If you see a lot of items promoting infant formula companies then it is not likely that the doctor will support you in any issues should arise.

Don't forget the hospital you plan to deliver at as well. Ask what the hospital's policies on breastfeeding are. Some hospitals insist that babies take at least one bottle before being released; yet just one bottle is often all it takes to harm a good nursing relationship. Be sure that the hospital you choose promotes breastfeeding, allows rooming for the new mother, and does not offer the baby any artificial nipples from bottles or pacifiers. Also find out if your hospital has a lactation consultant on staff, and make sure she is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). There are no regulations for a person to be a lactation consultant, making it easy for any nurse to claim to be so. Only an IBCLC is required to undergo extensive training on breastfeeding and can offer the best help for new mothers.

Before your baby is born you should also let your family know how they can support you. Many from older generations had difficult breastfeeding experiences from lack of support, or they come from the time when doctors believed that breastmilk was not good enough to feed a child. Inaccurate advice, concerns for the baby's health, and pressure to stop can cause a breastfeeding mother to loose confidence. Also the over sexualization of the female breast has caused many people to forget the true function of the breast, to feed a child. Rude comments, insults, and a belief that breastfeeding is obscene are sometimes launched at a breastfeeding mother. Before your child is born let family members know that you are choosing to breastfeed, and that while their concerns and feelings are valid to them, feeding your child is important to you. You may have to put your foot down and issue an order of "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." Though it could cause some hard feelings for a while, the negative comments by some who do not understand or support breastfeeding can quickly tear down a new mother and lead to her weaning early.

While you are out shopping for baby clothes and toys don't forget to stock up on breastfeeding supplies as well. If you will be retuning to work after your baby is born a good pump and storage bags for milk will be a must have item. Special pillows, such as the Boppy, help a new mom get comfortable while holding her child. A good nursing bra can be a lifesaver, one that will not only support your increased chest but also is easy to unhook one handed in a hurry. And add in bra pads, small circular pads that you place inside your bra to absorb excess milk without creating a wet spot on your shirt. Special breast cream, such as Lansinoh, can help sooth the early cracking and soreness that many moms experience until their breasts become accustomed to their new job.

While planning the birth you should also look at how breastfeeding may be affected. For example some studies have shown that the use of an epidural during labor had a negative impact on breast-feeding in the first 24 hours of life. There have also been studies linking infant circumcision with problems breastfeeding. Anything that may cause a newborn to be separated from his mother, that may cause sleepiness in a newborn, or that may cause trauma and shock can all be a disturbance to early breastfeeding.

Once the baby is born there are a few things you can do to ensure a successful breastfeeding relationship with your baby. First nurse as soon after birth as possible, and nurse as often as the baby wants. A newborn's stomach is extremely tiny, so it only takes a few drops to fill one up but it also is digested rather quickly. The small amount of colostrum that new mothers make is more than enough to feed a new born for several days. Avoid all artificial nipples, bottles and pacifiers can ruin an early breastfeeding relationship and causes weeks or months of problems. Watch the baby not the clock, do not try to time feedings or set a schedule in the early weeks. The best way to cultivate a breastfeeding relationship is to sleep when the baby sleeps, nurse when the baby is hungry, and spend as much time with skin to skin contact as possible. A natural routine will soon develop as your child grows, but in the beginning there should be no set schedules.

By being prepared, having a support network, and planning in advance you can greatly increase your chances for a wonderful breastfeeding relationship. As with any other aspect of parenting breastfeeding is a skill that new mothers must practice to get right. Working towards a good latch to reduce pain, learning to read you baby's hunger cues, or understanding how to juggle nursing into your day are all things that new mothers can master in order to have a solid breastfeeding relationship. If breastfeeding is important to you then knowing how to start out on the right foot is valuable information.

Recommended books for new mothers and mothers-to-be:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - La Leche League International
The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers - Dr. Jack Newman
The Breastfeeding Book - Martha Sears
So That's What They're For - Janet Tamaro
Mothering Multiples - Karen Gromada