Breastfeeding is nature´s gift to mother and child, a gift that provides connection, closeness, nourishment, protection, and well-being. However, for many women, nature’s gift seems to come with a series of trials and tribulations. Commonly experienced problems include those concerning latch, production and nipple pain. Although remedies and solutions exist for most problems, some may take time to overcome and it can often be both very frustrating and extremely draining for a new mother. So what is the key to experiencing nature’s gift easily? Is there a way to reduce, minimize and even avoid breastfeeding hurdles? The key lies in understanding the basics of successful breastfeeding: INFORMATION, SUPPORT and CONVICTION.
1. BEING INFORMED
You can never know too much about breastfeeding, and pregnancy is undoubtedly the best time to start reading about and researching the topic. Find out about the why and the how of breastfeeding before your baby is born and you will be giving yourself a great headstart. There are many great books available and a great way to spend your pregnancy is reading up on the topic. A few books that come highly recommended include The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers and The Nursing Mother’s Companion. Another excellent way to become better informed about breastfeeding is to attend a breastfeeding support group. The Leche League, which has an extensive network of breastfeeding counselors, known as leaders, runs monthly meetings which provide a wonderful forum for mothers and mothers-to-be to share experiences and receive help and support. Such meetings have proven to be invaluable for some mothers and just one visit can make an enormous difference.
2. BEING SUPPORTED
It is essential to accept that as the mother of a newborn you cannot do it all! Be open to accepting help with the simple logistics of life and if help is not forthcoming, speak up and ask for it. Some of the most basic essentials include organizing in advance who is going to take over your household responsibilities once the baby is born. Who will grocery shop, clean, cook, etc? Don’t hesitate to call on family or friends to give an hour of their time once a week or once a day. The greatest assistance they can give you is not in fact doing things for the baby, but rather doing things for you. Eager hands often want to help bottle feed baby or rock an infant to sleep, but in the early days, the more time the baby spends in mother’s arms, the easier breastfeeding will be. Assigning jobs such as picking up diapers at the store, or washing the cloth ones, keeping an eye on your sleeping baby while you take a shower, are all ways of involving those that want to help but supporting you while you mother your new baby. And of course when it comes to support, knowing where to find breastfeeding support is essential. Have names and numbers at hand for when things aren’t going well or for when you simply need to be reassured that everything is fine.
3. BEING CONVINCED
The conviction you hold regarding breastfeeding is, at the end of the day, what will see you through the difficulties, should they occur. Conviction gives you strength, determination and willpower. Whether you encounter physical, emotional or circumstantial hurdles on the journey, the conviction that breastfeeding is what you want for both you and your baby is what will help you overcome the difficult times. It is often said that breastfeeding is an act of faith in that how much milk is being consumed by the baby is invisible to the eye. But how well your baby looks, how content your baby is, how good the breastfeeding relationship is, all demonstrates very visibly that your baby is thriving on the contact, love and nourishment received while being breastfed. Convincing evidence indeed and without a doubt, your conviction about breastfeeding is your number one ally!
Karen Green - Writer, teacher, therapist and mother.
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