Making Breastfeeding Successful: Top 10 List
by Doria Keesling, APRN, CNM, IBCLC
Missoula, Montana
Making the commitment to breastfeed your baby is the greatest gift of all. Every day researchers present new evidence about the benefits for both mom and baby. Benefits for baby include fewer ear infections and colds, decreased risk of obesity, diabetes, and auto-immune disorders like eczema and asthma.
Benefits for mom include decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, faster postpartum weight loss, and fewer days of missed work to stay home with a sick baby. There are many less tangible benefits as well, such as the bonding that occurs between mother and child when they share such an intimate relationship.
As a Choice Mom, you have made some hard decisions and know the power of making a commitment. We are wise women and when we put our mind to something we can make almost anything happen!
Below you will find my top 10 list for making breastfeeding successful. These recommendations are based both on science and my personal experiences as a midwife and lactation consultant.
1) Make the Commitment! - Ask those around you to speak positively about breastfeeding and ask the hospital to support your choices. Find a pediatrician who supports breastfeeding.
2) Rally your team - Let friends and family know that you will be breastfeeding and that you are looking for support.
3) Put your baby skin-to-skin immediately after birth - Discuss this with your health care team, letting them know that you would like the baby placed directly on your chest while the baby is dried and assessed, unless there is a medical reason to do otherwise.
4) Put the baby to your breast within the first half hour of birth - Let your birth team know that you will be breastfeeding immediately and you would like help. Ask friends and family for privacy, if needed.
5) Keep the baby on your chest - We often want to wrap babies in blankets and pass them around the room. There will be lots of time for that later. Newborns should stay skin-to-skin with their moms so they can smell your skin and milk, and maintain stable vital signs. There will be less crying too!
6) Ask for the help of a lactation consultant - Many hospitals now have lactation consultants on staff. Ideally your lactation consultant will be an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), a person who has done many hours of lactation care and passed an international exam in order to become certified. Go to www.ilca.org or www.llli.org (La Leche League) for help.
7) Feed on demand - Most new relationships have some ups and downs, so be patient with yourself and your baby. Your baby is learning a new skill and will want to practice often. Your body is learning how much milk to make, and will need regular reminders to make enough. If your baby is crying to let you know he is hungry, then he has gotten too hungry. There are many early cues of hunger such as licking his lips, putting his hand to his mouth, and "rooting".
8) Stay in bed/Sleep when baby sleeps - Lack of sleep makes everything worse. If you need to stay in bed for 12 hours to get 8 hours of sleep, then that's what you should do. Babies do sleep a lot when newborns, so take advantage and take lots of naps all day long.
9) Seek postpartum help - Ask your friends to drop off meals at your house, ask someone to come stay with you for several days, or hire a postpartum doula to help with baby care and do some light cooking and cleaning.
10) Stay positive! - Breastfeeding can be challenging and the postpartum period is like no other time in your life. Reach out to people who support your choices and ask for help. Keep in mind the big picture and stay positive!
