Most Canadian women believe in the value of breastfeeding. Over 85% choose to breastfeed when their baby is born. These numbers, however, fall off quite quickly in the weeks after birth. By the time these babies are 6 months old, only 25% are still exclusively breastfeeding.
If breastfeeding is "natural" and women are wanting to breastfeed, why is there such a dramatic drop? The two most common reasons given are painful breastfeeding and concern about milk supply.
Here are 6 things you can do to help avoid these pitfalls and ensure you meet your breastfeeding goals:
Surround yourself with people who believe in breastfeeding and enlist their support. If you don’t have friends or family who have breastfed, you may want to consider joining a local support group such a La Leche League or one of the many Facebook Breastfeeding groups. This support is especially helpful in the beginning when you are learning to breastfeed and still building your confidence.
A new baby is completely dependent upon you. Get as much help with your other responsibilities as possible. This is not being lazy. Freeing yourself from entertaining company and household tasks allows you to focus on breastfeeding, getting extra rest and responding to your baby’s needs. Remember, you cannot spoil a newborn!
Snuggle your baby skin-to-skin as much as possible (baby in a diaper only against your bare chest). Lots of skin-to-skin contact will help you to learn your baby’s feeding cues and make latching easier. Frequent breastfeeding in baby’s early days leads to a greater milk supply down the road.
There is no one “right” position for breastfeeding. The best position is one that is comfortable for you and your baby. Many women find that laid back nursing is the most comfortable. You can see photos and descriptions of some breastfeeding positions you may like in this post.
Breastfeeding often doesn’t come “naturally.” It can take a bit of practice. Your nipples may feel tender as you and your baby learn how to breastfeed. You should not, however, have toe-curling pain. Toe-curling pain can happen when baby is attached to the nipple and not to the breast. A deeper latch usually helps to resolve soreness; it also helps baby to extract the milk more effectively.
If you are experiencing pain and needing help, ask a breastfeeding specialist!
The best way to ensure an excellent milk supply is to breastfeed often, whenever baby seems hungry. It is not unusual for a newborn to feed 8 - 12 times or more in 24 hours. This may seem daunting but truly, this stage does not last forever.
Getting started with breastfeeding takes a bit of practice and a whole lot of support and perseverance, especially in the beginning. Once breastfeeding is established, however, you will find that it is pretty easy; you may even find yourself being the support for a newer mom!
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