How to Prepare for Breastfeeding Before Your Baby is Born

Dear SDBFC,

What should a first-time expectant mother who wants to breastfeed expect at the (big, traditional) hospital in the way of breastfeeding support? It would be nice to know what we're allowed to expect/ ask for. Should the hospital lactation consultants be sufficient or should we plan on working with an independent LC right away? Is there anything we can do before birth to help ensure smoother breastfeeding?

Sincerely,

Jenny

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Dear Jenny,

That is an excellent question, and to be honest very difficult to answer.  The type of breastfeeding support you will find at a hospital will vary greatly depending on which part of the United States you live in, whether the hospital is Baby-Friendly, its yearly breastfeeding rates, if they have certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) on staff, and if their postpartum nurses have had recent breastfeeding training.  One hopes that the hospital lactation consultants will be fabulous, but that may not always be the case.  Also, a new mom typically won’t even see a lactation consultant in the hospital unless she is high-risk for breastfeeding challenges or she asks for one directly.

Since much of this may feel like it is not under your control, there are many steps YOU CAN make to ensure that breastfeeding gets off to a great start, regardless of the breastfeeding savviness of your hospital.

Here are my top 10 tips to prepare for breastfeeding before your baby is born:

1. Have a long chat with your partner.  Take turns discussing each person’s goals for breastfeeding and what type of support you may need from one another as a new parent.  Our article Partner Support: Can it make or break your breastfeeding experience shares different ways a partner can support a breastfeeding mom.

2. Take a fantastic breastfeeding class!  Don’t settle for the status quo.  Search for a class that not only covers the basics (latching, common concerns, how to know that your baby is getting enough), but also discusses local resources and is taught by a dynamic teacher with a background in lactation.  My favorite comment I saw on an evaluation of a breastfeeding class was, “the teacher even made my husband wish he could breastfeed!”  Now that’s a great class to attend!

3. Do some research about which hospital/newborn procedures are necessary during and after a birth.  Some hospital procedures are protocol, yet are not medically necessary for every baby, and can often negatively impact breastfeeding. 

4. Read an informative and fun breastfeeding book, such as Latch: A Handbook for Breastfeeding with Confidence at Every Stage. (Written by our very own, Robin Kaplan!)

5. Attend a breastfeeding support group, prenatally!  First, you can see the lay of the land (where to park your car, where the group is located, and if the women seem like the type of ladies you would want to hang out with.)  Secondly, you can see women breastfeeding in their ‘natural habitat’….meaning, baby on boob, minus the cover, without feeling the need to cover up.  Thirdly, you can sit next to a woman who has a newborn and ask her all of those questions about being a new mom that you have been dying to ask someone.  Last, but not least, you will feel an abundance of support for your desire to breastfeed and know that this is a safe and fun place to return to after your baby is born.

6. Come up with a ‘Visitor Policy’.  Those first few days after your baby is born are critical in establishing your milk supply and helping your baby become a successful breastfeeder.   When the entire family and neighborhood are camping out in your hospital room, it might be difficult to feel entirely comfortable taking your top off and letting your baby find his/her way to your breast.  This is YOUR time to figure out breastfeeding, not to practice breastfeeding in front of an audience.  So, decide on a policy with your partner and stick to it.  Remember, your friends should understand that this is your time to get to know your baby and that they can all come and see you once you get home.

7. Choose a breastfeeding-friendly pediatrician.  The is most likely a physician you will see more in these next few year than any other you have ever seen before.  Make sure that the pediatrician is supportive and knowledgeable about breastfeeding.   Ask to interview him/her BEFORE your baby is born so that you can make an informed decision.

8. Create a hospital-plan that will optimize your breastfeeding success.  Items to include are: rooming in, no pacifier or bottles, no formula unless medically necessary, limiting visitors, delaying your baby’s bath, and keeping your baby skin to skin as much as possible.

9. Ask for assistance from a certified lactation consultant, or a well-trained postpartum nurse, while at the hospital.  Have her check positioning and your baby’s latch.  You are paying for these services, so  take advantage of them!

10. Look for a local lactation consultant while you are still pregnant.  Spend time perusing the Internet to find a local IBCLC that seems like a good fit for you.  Attach her name and contact information to your fridge, so you can find it quickly if you need it.  This way you aren’t calling the first person you find, out of desperation, after the baby is born.

*** I know I said Top 10, but I couldn't forget to include this tip.... Hire a birth doula.  The easier your birth is and the fewer birth interventions you encounter can definitely get breastfeeding off to a great start.  Doulas can make this happen:)

Thanks for your question, Jenny!  Hope this helps!

Warmly,

SDBFC

Breastfeeding Expectations for the First Month

Do you remember what breastfeeding was like during those first few weeks after your baby was born? 

I personally remember feeling somewhat clumsy and awkward, as if my son and I were trying to master a new dance without stepping on each other’s toes.  Our rhythm was slightly off.   I constantly relied on my breastfeeding pillow and there was absolutely no dependable schedule.  I was forced to switch off my Type-A brain and learn to go with the flow, which was quite a challenge for me, to say the least!

Yet, as the months went by our breastfeeding relationship changed.  In most ways, it improved immensely, as I became a more confident mother and caregiver.  In other ways, different nuances surfaced, which taught me that breastfeeding, like parenting, is constantly in a state of motion and sometimes in need of modifications.

Listening to other breastfeeding mothers, I realized that my experience was super common.  We all found that our breastfeeding relationships with our children changed dramatically from the time our babies were born to the time they eventually weaned.  Breastfeeding a 6-week old was drastically different than breastfeeding a 9-month old or toddler, and all of the months in between.  And, what helped make these transitions manageable was knowing now common and normal these experiences truly were.

Today, on The Boob Group online radio show, I am excited to announce a NEW SERIES called Breastfeeding Expectations! 

For the next 12 months, we will be following three new mothers along their breastfeeding journeys, learning how they cope with breastfeeding challenges and settle into a breastfeeding rhythm with their babies.  Jenn, Anney, and Cherri have graciously offered to share their stories, including both their successes and their struggles, as we document what it has been like for them to breastfeed their babies.

Please click here for the first episode of Breastfeeding Expectations: The First Month

For additional resources about breastfeeding during the first month of your baby’s life, check out Breastfeeding Expectations: The First Month on The Boob Group web site.  Also, join The Boob Group Facebook Page and sign up for The Boob Group Newsletter to stay informed about upcoming episodes, blog articles, and giveaways!

What did breastfeeding look like for you and your baby during that first month?

What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

What did you enjoy the most during that first month of breastfeeding?

Partner Support: Can It Make or Break Your Breastfeeding Experience?

When Ben was born almost 7 years ago, I had no idea how much I would rely on my husband to be my pillar of support.  When I was gliding along my roller coaster of postpartum hormones, it was my husband who gave me space, as well as made sure I stayed somewhat sane.  He brought me water while I was nursing, ordered in dinner when we were too tired to cook, and made me laugh when I thought all I could do was cry.  He was also the person who got on the phone to call the lactation consultant when I had no idea why breastfeeding wasn’t going the way I have envisioned it. 

Breastfeeding was important to US and we knew we could make it work.

In all of my prenatal breastfeeding classes, I discuss with my students how to create a team of support, for both birth and breastfeeding.  The first and most important person on this team is mom’s partner, or as I fondly call my hubby - My Partner in Crime!  My students’ homework for the night is to discuss how THEY can get breastfeeding off to a great start. 

I recommend discussing the following questions:

• What are your breastfeeding goals (i.e., how long would you like your baby to breastfeed, will you exclusively breastfeed, etc.)?

• Will your baby receive bottles during this time?

• How would you like your partner to be involved with breastfeeding?

• What support do you need from your partner?

The last question tends to be the most difficult to answer prenatally, as it is sometimes hard to envision what breastfeeding support you will need after the baby arrives.  Also, it is hard to explain to a partner what it feels like to be the sole person in charge of meeting your baby’s nutritional needs.  Yet, I feel like it is the most important question of them all. 

In our society, when so many of us are not meeting our breastfeeding goals, our main cheerleader (often our partner) can truly make or break our breastfeeding experiences.  When a mom calls me up, with desperation in her voice, yet is unable to book an appointment with me because her partner doesn’t see the benefit of meeting with a lactation consultant, I can sense that her breastfeeding journey is going to be an uphill battle that she is fighting alone.  On the flip side, when I have a partner asking to hold the tube and syringe so that mom can supplement their baby at breast, I am confident that this mom will continue to try to overcome her breastfeeding challenges.

So, how can your partner help you to meet your breastfeeding goals?

In last week’s article, Why Aren’t Moms Meeting their Breastfeeding Goals, we talked about several different ways that society members could offer support to breastfeeding mothers.  This week, I have collected advice from a few wise mamas about ways in which their partners helped them to meet their breastfeeding goals. 

“While we were dealing with some initial breastfeeding challenges, I asked my husband to tell anyone who came over that they could only say positive things about breastfeeding.  Rather than saying that it would be ok if we gave our baby a bottle, our guests mentioned what a great job I was doing trying to breastfeed and that they were sure things would get easier soon.  I truly believe that the positive vibes in our home really helped to turn around our breastfeeding challenges.” - Sarah

“Up until my son was a few weeks old, he liked to sleep all day and party all night.  After the 11pm nursing session, I really wanted to have a few hours of sleep before we started all over again.  My partner would take our son out to the living room, watch John Stewart, and let our baby sleep on his chest until the next feeding session.  After those few hours of uninterrupted sleep, I felt like a million bucks!  It made all the difference!” – Michelle

“When our son was 6 weeks old, my sister in law got married.  The dress I was wearing required that I had to take the whole thing off to nurse my son. …probably poor planning on my part, but I LOVED the dress!   Whenever I went into the bridal suite to nurse, my partner joined me and hung out for those 30 minute intervals.  I so appreciated her company and support!” – Jessica

Here are a few other ways that partners can support breastfeeding, as well as support a new mom’s well-being, that I have stumbled upon over the years:

• Call a lactation consultant if mom is having breastfeeding challenges.  Don’t expect her to solve this all on her own.

• Bottle feed the baby in a ‘breastfeeding-friendly’ manner so that your baby will be willing to go back and forth between bottle and breast

• Set up the pump when mom is pumping often.  This just removes some added stress.

• Document your new baby’s life with photos and videos and share with family/friends through email, Facebook, and Kodak Gallery

• Soothe the baby when the baby is not hungry and doesn’t need a diaper change

• Wear the baby.  There’s nothing sexier than a baby-wearing partner!

• Massage moms’ sore neck and shoulders, or make an appointment for mom to get a massage

• Help baby to latch on to the breast, as mom sometimes can’t even see her own nipples :-)

• Make sure mom is eating healthy foods and drinking plenty of water.  Sometimes new moms forget to take care of themselves, which can really make her exhausted and lower her milk supply (i.e., cranky!)

When Should I Introduce Solids While Breastfeeding?

Dear SDBFC,

Thanks for responding to this question on Facebook the other day, but I would love to hear more on this topic: does breast milk start losing its nutritional value after 6 months? If the pediatrician states solids (in particular enriched rice cereal) twice a day are needed, are there any alternate opinions? I'm curious if the WHO or LLL have any alternate evidence.

Sincerely,

Abby

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Dear Abby,

Thank you for your excellent questions.  Solids are a huge topic of discussion in our weekly breastfeeding support group and pretty much every pediatrician in town has a different philosophy.  Here’s what the official organizations recommend:

The World Health Organization: “Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development, and health.  Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues up to two years or beyond.

The American Academy of Pediatrics: “Introduction of complementary feedings before six months of age generally does not increase total caloric intake or rate of growth and only substitutes foods that lack the protective components of human milk.”

Based on these recommendations, it is not that the breast milk is losing nutritional value at 6 months, or even a year!  It is that your baby is beginning to need additional nutrition, which is supplied by complementary foods.  Plus, complementary foods start out as little bites, not full bowls of food.  It is a very slow process.

So why do these organizations recommend delaying solid foods until your baby is at least 6 months? 

Here’s what the research says.....

1. Your baby’s digestive tract is not fully ready to accept anything other than breast milk until she/he is at least 6 months old.  This is when your baby’s intestinal tract is finally sealed against allergens and will be able to digest a greater variety of foods.

2. As stated on Kellymom.com, the pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrase do not reach adult levels until around 7 months. Young infants also have low levels of lipase and bile salts, so fat digestion does not reach adult levels until 6-9 months.  When foods aren’t digested well, babies can have negative reactions (eczema, gas, constipation, etc.) 

3. Most babies don’t need iron supplementation (see our article Do All Exclusively Breastfed Babies Really Need Iron Supplementation to see if your baby is one who is at risk for anemia), so the excess iron given through iron-fortified foods (cereals) actually DECREASES a baby’s efficiency in iron absorption when given before 6 months of age.  Most exclusively breastfed babies have enough iron stored in their bodies to last for at least 6-9 months.

4. Delaying solids helps to protect a mom’s milk supply and decreases her risk of early weaning.

So, do you have to start with iron-fortified rice cereal when your baby is ready for solids?  NO!  Iron-fortified white rice cereal is almost completely void of nutritional value.  I am completely guilty of starting this with my oldest child, as I didn’t know any better, yet it was such a waste. 

Go for the whole grains and foods! 

Choose REAL food! 

What are your options for those first solid foods? 

One of my favorite websites, Wholesome Baby Food, gives a fantastic list of foods to start with your infant.  La Leche League gives similar recommendations, as well.  How much better does this list sound than boring rice cereal?

Avocado

Banana

Whole grain cereal

Pear

Squash

Sweet potatoes

Lastly, do you have to start solids the minute your baby turns 6 months old?  No.  Wait until your baby is showing signs of being able to tolerate solid foods, such as sitting up unassisted, developing a ‘pincer’ grasp, and is willing to gnaw and chew food.  For a detailed article about solid food readiness, check out Kellymom.com’s article, Is My Baby Ready for Solid Foods?,  as well as The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

Sincerely,

SDBFC

Do you have a question you would like answered by our lactation consultant? Please post it in the comment section, on our Facebook page, or to our Twitter Account (@SanDiegoBFC). We would love to feature it in an upcoming Help A Breastfeeding Mama Out article!

How Can I Keep Up My Milk Supply While on a Business Trip?

Dear SDBFC,

Do you have tips on your first (business) trip without the baby when you're breastfeeding and have to pump (in my case, baby will be 9 mo.)? 

Thank you!

Kristi

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Dear Kristi,

Absolutely!  Taking a business trip, when you have a breastfeeding baby at home, doesn't have to be as daunting as it sounds.

Here are a few tricks to maintain your milk supply and keep your baby comfortable while you are away from him.

1. If you have the opportunity, pump a few extra times a day for a good two weeks before your leave on your business trip.  An extra pumping session in the morning and right before bed can help to build a surplus in your freezer for when you are away.

2. Make sure your little one is used to taking the bottle several weeks before you leave on your trip.  There is nothing more frustrating for a partner or caregiver if the baby is refusing the bottle when mom is gone.  Plus, you won't have to worry about what your baby is going to eat while you're travelling.

3. Bring a double, electric pump AND a hand pump with you on your trip.  The double electric will hang out in your hotel room or accompany you to work.  This will insure that you are truly DRAINING your breasts several times a day.  Try pumping 15-20 minutes at a time, with some breast massage.  

The hand pump is great for the inconvenient times where you only have a few minutes to pump, but you want to relieve the fullness.... like on the plane or during a business dinner that went a lot longer than you anticipated.  This will help so your aren't leaking through your snazzy business blouse or exploding any shirt buttons:)

4. Create a pumping schedule that allows you to pump several times a day while you are away.  Kristi, since your baby will be 9 months old, my guess is he is probably nursing (about) 5 times in a 24 hr period.  If that's the case, try to pump 5 times in 24 hours while you are away from him.  This may mean you have to wake up once in the middle of the night to get in that extra pumping session, but it will be worth it to help maintain your supply.  Plus, this separation is only temporary!

5. Bring a small cooler with blue ice to keep your pumped milk fresh during those work hours.  Transfer it to the hotel fridge when you get back to your room.  Your milk will stay fresh for 24 hours in the cooler with the ice packs and 5-7 days in the hotel fridge.  No need to pump and dump!

Large freezer bag6. Pack a larger freezer bag that zips (think Trader Joe's freezer bags) and some extra ice packs.  This is for the ride home.  You can take all of your pumped milk back home with you.  Just store it in breastmilk storage bags, place it in the freezer bag with ice packs, and pack it in your checked bag.  No need to even have a discussion with TSA about your breastmilk:) 

7. When you get back home, my guess is that you and your little guy will want to take a mini nursing honeymoon, which means just nurse and nurse whenever either one of you wants to.  Reconnect and enjoy one another!

Warmly,

Robin

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What tricks have worked for YOU when you went on a business trip away from your breastfeeding little one?

If you have a question you would like to submit for our series Help a Breastfeeding Mama Out!, please add them to the comment section of this article, share them on our Facebook page wall, or send it through the contact link on our website.

Do All Exclusively Breastfed Babies REALLY Need Iron Supplements?

When I read a policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics stating that exclusively breastfed babies need to be supplemented with iron starting at 4 months, I have to wonder…

Are they saying that my perfect nutrition for my baby is no longer PERFECT? 

Are they saying that what my body produces is suddenly SUB PAR? 

This caused me to do a little research.  What IS the deal with iron in breast milk? 

Does my 4 month old really need those nasty-tasting drops?

According to my research, I found that not all exclusively breastfed babies need iron supplementation.  In general, babies are born with enough iron in their system to last at least 6 months, of not until they have tripled their birth weight. (Riordan and Wambach, Breastfeeding and Human Lactation)  According to the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, there is not a lot of iron in breast milk, yet there is not supposed to be, as it is more completely absorbed from breast milk than in supplements or formula.   Also, breast milk contains a protein, called lactoferrin, which binds to the extra iron that the baby cannot use, keeping it from feeding harmful intestinal bacteria.  Iron supplements, for a baby who is not iron-deficient, can often overwhelm the lactoferrin, causing an overgrowth of intestinal bacteria, resulting in diarrhea and possible microscopic bleeding.  WHAT???

And, my biggest RED FLAG went off when I found a Letter to the Editor of Pediatrics, called Concerns With Early Universal Iron Supplementation of Breastfeeding Infants.  In this article, the executive committee of the Breastfeeding Section of the AAP states that they have “major concerns about universal iron supplementation at 4 months in breastfeeding infants” and that the authors of the above policy “acknowledged that this report was submitted for review to the AAP Section on Breastfeeding, but they did not mention that we disagreed and provided our additional recommendations 2 years ago.”

HMMMMM!  So, clearly my breast milk is much more perfect than the AAP was trying to make it sound and universal iron supplementation of exclusively breastfed babies over 4 months is NOT ideal.

So, how would you know if your baby actually needs iron supplements?

Which babies are more at risk for iron-deficiency anemia? (according to www.kellymom.com)

• Babies who were born prematurely, since babies get the majority of their iron stores from their mother during the last trimester of pregnancy.
• In addition, there is evidence that babies whose birth weights are less than 3000 grams – about 6.5 pounds – (whether term or premature) tend to have reduced iron stores at birth and appear to need additional iron earlier.
• Babies born to mothers with poorly controlled diabetes.
• Theoretically, babies born to mothers who were anemic during pregnancy could have lower iron stores, however medical studies do not show this to be a problem. Babies born to mothers who are anemic during pregnancy are no more likely to be iron deficient than those born to mothers who are not anemic during pregnancy.
• Babies who are fed cow’s milk (instead of breast milk or iron-fortified formula) during the first year of life.

If your baby falls into one of these categories, you have the right to ask for your baby’s hemoglobin to be tested for anemia, rather than automatic iron supplementation.  And, if your baby does test positive for anemia, there are many Iron-only drops that you can give your little one.  No need for that multivitamin because your breast milk has all of those vitamins already in it!

In addition, when your little one is over 6 months and ready to start solid foods, consider those with a healthy dose of iron, like the ones listed on one of my favorite baby food sites, Wholesome Baby Food.  No need to try that boring white rice cereal, just because it is fortified with iron!

How Can I Respond to My Pediatrician Who is Not Supportive of Breastfeeding?

Welcome to our first edition of Help A Breastfeeding Mama Out!  Every Thursday, we will answer a question from one of our dear readers.  Do YOU have a burning question you would like answered on our blog Please email them to robinkaplan@sdbfc.com and we add it to our list!

Dear SDBFC,

Any advice for responding to doctors when they are unsupportive of breastfeeding past the first few months or uneducated about it (such as believing it causes cavities, etc.)?  Thank you in advance!

Sincerely,

Theresa

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Dear Theresa,

My first response would be, "Can I have my records, please?"  

I hope that doesn't sound too harsh, but pediatricians are supposed to be one of the main practitioners you can turn to with regards to the health of your child.  If your instincts are telling you that this professional is not up-to-date on one of the best ways to keep your child healthy (BREASTMILK!!!), then I would look for another practitioner who has read some research since 1970.  

Our family has changed doctors many times over the past few years, as I wanted to make sure that we were getting the best, most research-based care possible.  I was tired of explaining my preferences for vaccinations and antibiotics.  Now, going to the doctor is a pleasure, as I am respected participant in the decision-making for the health of our family.

Now, as for articles to share with any practitioner about the benefits of breastmilk past a few months, here are a few of my favorite:

Natural Resources Defense Council: Benefits of Breastfeeding

American Academy of Pediatrics: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk

Kellymom.com: The Many Benefits of Breastfeeding (Resources)

Are New Moms Bombarded with TOO MUCH Information?

So I would like to take a virtual raise of hands to see how many of us have googled ‘sore nipples’ or ‘increasing milk supply’ on a random Thursday night at 11pm?  What about ‘when will my baby sleep through the night?’

Sure, we are blessed to live in a time when we can go online to find information on anything, yet, how legitimate and correct is this information we stumble upon?  If I search ‘sore nipples and breastfeeding’, I get over 327,000 hits… that is INSANE!  That many people have written an article about sore nipples?

And the information overload doesn’t end there.

Oh, Facebook….how I love and hate you at the exact same time.  

While I love seeing photos of my friends on Facebook, I also find myself feeling in competition with them for who is the BETTER mom.  Who plans the best art projects?  Who looks like she is the most relaxed?  Who always looks like she is enjoying her role as mom?  It can sometimes make me feel badly about myself.

Now don’t get me wrong.  I think my favorite aspect of the Internet is the way in which we can share our personal stories.  Personal stories are incredibly powerful.  When I read stories about what other moms are dealing with, it can often put my current situation into perspective.  I can relate to someone else, via the Internet, and feel like I actually know this woman, although I have never met her in real life.  The connections and support are empowering!

Yet, sometimes I think the Internet is a little too much of a good thing.  When my friends and clients are telling me about how they googled ‘reflux’ last night and now have 10 different diagnoses for their baby’s fussiness at the breast, I feel like their stress has elevated, rather than dissipated.  Their main questions were never answered.  Plus, while there is terrific parenting advice online, there is equally horrible, judgmental, and biased opinions that can really bring a mama down.

So what can an Information-Bombarded mom do to bring back her sanity?

This past week, I spent 4 days with my family, without Facebook and Google Reader.  Instead, I hiked, reconnected with my kids and my siblings, cooked nutritious meals, sat and watched my kids go on a scavenger hunt in a garden for an hour, and actually read a REAL book!  It was so therapeutic to purposefully ignore what everyone else was doing and what they were presently concerned about.  It was all about my family instead.

My favorite ways to actively become more present:

• Turn off my computer and phone…. I can instantly be in the moment.
• Spend more time outside….even writing this article was more relaxing as I sat on my outside couch with my feet up, soaking in the sun and the rustling branches.
• Take photos with a real camera, rather than my phone.  This way I can’t be interrupted by calls or emails.
• Bookmark my favorite sources of legitimate Internet information.  This way I spend less time weeding out the crappy articles and just read the beneficial ones.  For breastfeeding resources, I love Kellymom and Best for Babes.
• Hide my ‘perfect’ friends on FB.  It has saved me hours of thinking aggravating thoughts now that I don’t have to read their posts every day.
• Find time to decompress every day.  Parenthood, while rewarding, demands nonstop attention, which can really wear one down.  Sneaking out to throw the ball to my dog or hiding in the garage while I do my laundry can help quiet my mind and my stress during the times I need it the most.
• Find those few friends who can truly relate to you and will offer non-judgmental advice.... or even better, just listen when you need them to.
• If at all possible, take a small vacation.  While I try to decompress on a daily basis, I find that the stress of being a working mom just builds and builds until I explode.  This short vacation, spending time in nature and eating great food, with little contact with the outside world, definitely helped me hit my ‘restart’ button. 
• Find practitioners in my community that I trust.  Rather than googling ‘thrush’ or ‘vaccines’ online, I have someone that I can contact personally and get a straight answer based on my personal situation.  I recommend for my friends in other areas to check out ILCA's website for a list of qualified lactation consultants.

How about you?  What would you add to this list?

Advice for the New Breastfeeding Mom

Dear New Breastfeeding Mama,

All rights reserved by Rebeca CygnusAre you feeling completely overwhelmed by your new profession as Mother of a New Baby?  Are you googling sore nipples and how often should my newborn breastfeed while sitting awake at 3:30am?  Are you like me and only prepared for pregnancy and labor, but forgot to read the books about how to take care of a newborn?

Well, then look no further, my sweet friend!  Put the google search DOWN!

While I don't have all of the answers to breastfeeding and parenting  (let's be honest....who really does?), I do have some short and sweet resources that may be helpful for you in your time of need.  

And if you don't find what you are looking for on this list, add your question to the comments and I will do my best to provide you with the help you need!

Here are my Top 6 Advice for the New Breastfeeding Mom articles:

1. My Newborn is So Sleepy!

2. Laid-Back Breastfeeding: Physically and Mentally

3. Napping and Postpartum Sleep Deprivation

4. Common Concerns While Breastfeeding - Sore Nipple Therapy

5. Common Concerns While Breastfeeding - Help!  I'm Engorged!

6. How to Bring in Your Milk Supply More Quickly

Know Your Newborn's Rights After a Hospital Birth: What Are Your Choices?

Did you know that you don't have to cut your baby's umbilical cord immediately after he/she is born?

Did you know that you could hold off on standard hospital procedures after your baby is born, given he/she is healthy, until after the first breastfeeding session (and beyond?)

I am somewhat embarrassed to admit, but I was one of those mothers who walked into labor and delivery trusting everything my OBGYN said.  I had not done any extra research on the policies and procedures that took place during a hospital birth.  I had no idea how these medicalized birth practices could impact my delivery, my child's future well-being, my breastfeeding initiation, and my recovery.  

Now that I have been in the birth and postpartum professional world for over 3 years, I am shocked about how little I knew about my rights during birth and beyond.  And I have a masters degree, dammit! I am an educated woman about everything else in my life, so why didn't I learn more about birthing practices?  

Fortunately, there are many research-based articles on the web that will help you make a decision about whether these routine hospital procedures are for you or not.

So which procedures are under your control?

1. All initial evaluations can take place while the baby is resting on mom's chest.

2. Your baby doesn't need a bath in the hospital - the vernix helps fight infections and is moisturizing, so rub it in!

3. If you don't have chlamydia or gonorrhea, your baby doesn't need drops in the eyes after birth.

4. Vitamin K shots - does your baby really need this?  

And these are just a few....

For more information about your newborn's rights after a hospital birth, take the time to listen to this fabulous online radio show episode from Pregtastic called, Know Your Rights!  Routine Hospital Procedures for You and Your Newborn.

Also, while you are at it, make sure your hospital is breastfeeding-supportive.  In 2012, you would think they all are, but, again, I was shocked at how many of them are not.  Best for Babes has a great article that can help you figure this out: Top 10 Questions to Help You Find a Breastfeeding-Supportive Hospital.