Top Three Tips for Establishing Breastfeeding
If you are expecting a baby, you have more than likely put some thought into how you would like to feed that baby. And if the plan involves breastfeeding, this blog is for you. Because as a postpartum doula and infant feeding educator, I hear again and again from expecting parents that they “would like to try breastfeeding but it just might not work out.”
It just might not work out.
I’ve heard it’s really hard.
It didn’t work for my sister/best friend/cousin.
Too often we hear horror stories or tales of woe when it comes to breastfeeding. So in honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I want to inject some positivity and easy, practical tips for anyone out there hoping to feed their baby at the breast or chest. I’m not saying breastfeeding isn’t challenging. It certainly can be. But maybe these tips will help you see that it is doable. And it can work for you.
Patience and Practice are the Name of the Game
Everyone likes to talk about how natural breastfeeding is. But in my opinion, breastfeeding is natural the way walking is, not the way breathing is. With breathing, we just come out ready to do it, take a breathe with no instruction, and we’re good to go. Walking however takes a lot of practice and time. We can’t do it right away. We try, we wobble, we fall. But eventually we learn. That’s how breastfeeding works.
For many breast/chest feeding dyads, it takes a lot of practice and a lot of time to eventually get it right. Just like you, your baby is also learning new a skill, so you both have to work together. You will have to teach your newborn how to latch properly at the breast (or how to stay awake long enough to eat in those early days). You will need to learn how to hold and position this new baby and find the approach that works best for you. And all of this will take time.
So be patient with yourself.
Don’t beat yourself up if breastfeeding is challenging. Instead, tell yourself that you and your baby are a team that will work together to tackle this challenge. And give yourself grace for all the feelings that come with learning a new skill - frustration, overwhelm, doubt, exhaustion. It’s okay to feel all of those things. Just keep practicing.
2. Take Things One Feeding at a Time
So remember how I said establishing breastfeeding is challenging for most people? Well, it is. And it will take a while - for some people that’s two weeks; for others that could be six - to feel like every feeding session goes smoothly. So until then, just take things one feeding at a time. It can be hard not to get wrapped up in wondering how you’re going to be successful at this and how you’re going to make it to 4 months, 6 months, 12 months, or to whatever feeding goal you set for yourself when you’re only a few days into it.
But try to only focus on the current feeding.
And sometimes the current feeding is not so great. Sometimes your baby really struggles to latch. Sometimes the latch itself is painful. Sometimes it seems like your baby sleeps the whole time rather than eats. And all of those things are so frustrating. But that doesn’t mean the next feeding is going to be that way.
And if you need to pump or use a nipple shield or supplement with one feeding, that also doesn’t mean you will have to do it with the next. Just take it one feeding at a time. It’s only if it seems like a pattern of worrying feeds are developing that you may need to reach out for support. And that’s where tip number three comes in.
3. Education and Support are Game Changers
All of the evidence and research out there on breastfeeding tells us that those people who seek out breastfeeding education and surround themselves with support are more successful when it comes to reaching their feeding goals. These are two things you can prepare for now in order to help you get off to a good start when your baby is here.
When it comes to breast and chest feeding, there is a lot of information out there. Social media, opinions from friends and families, common breastfeeding myths that get passed around as if they are true. So the best thing you can do is find a solid, evidence-based educational class to prepare you with the things that you actually need to know. Doulas of Raleigh’s Infant Feeding 101 Class is exactly that. Our Infant Feeding Educators have designed a fun and engaging class, that delivers unbiased, evidence-based information when it comes to establishing breast/chest feeding. We offer group classes or you can schedule a private class.
Trust us - when it comes to getting breast or chest feeding off to a good start, a little bit of education goes a long way.
The other thing you can do to help you reach your feeding goals is to make sure you have surrounded yourself with people that are supportive of your choices. Do you have a sister/cousin/best friend who was successful with breastfeeding? Lean on them when you need some support. Talk to your partner about your goals and communicate their importance to them. Studies show that a supportive partner can greatly increase breastfeeding success rates. Encourage your partner to attend a breastfeeding class with you so they can learn some important ways to support you through this journey. If you’ve chosen a pediatrician, talk with them about your decision to breastfeed so you can get an idea of how supportive they are when it comes to breastfeeding. Have they taken any additional lactation trainings? Do they have lactation consultants on staff? These are good things to know.
And finally, once your baby is here, if you are experiencing challenges that are too hard to overcome on your own, reach out to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). This is the expert when it comes to all things lactation. Most IBCLCs in this area can meet with you in person to do a full assessment of how feedings are going and some can even do these meetings in your home. Most IBCLCs also accept insurance or can at least provide you with a superbill so you can be reimbursed. A good IBCLC will help diagnose what is going on and come up with a plan to help you overcome any issues and meet your long term feeding goals. If you need recommendations for an IBCLC in this area, reach out to us - we’re happy to help!