Preparing to Breastfeed
Preparing to
Breastfeed
Mothers today are faced with so many
sources of information: doctors’ advice, books, magazines, websites,
Facebook pages, the experiences of friends and relatives! One of the first steps in preparing to
breastfeed is to read about breastfeeding from reliable sources. Two excellent internet sites are www.catholicbreastfeeding.blogspot.com and www.askdrears.com. The former offers
an online support community via Yahoo groups and Facebook which can be
invaluable if you live in a rural area or just do not know many nursing
mothers. The Baby Book, Revised and Updated Edition: Everything You Need to Know
About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two (2013) by Dr. William Sears, Martha
Sears, Dr. Robert Sears, and Dr. James Sears is a very good, comprehensive book
about breastfeeding, baby care, and attachment parenting. The authors are Catholic and even discuss the
benefits of breastfeeding for spacing babies!
Besides reading quality Internet sites and
books, locating a good breastfeeding support network before your baby is born
is another important step. Even though
you can read a lot about breastfeeding, you really cannot learn it solely
through reading a book. Speaking to
mothers in person about their real life experiences is an excellent way to
learn.
There are different options depending on
what type of support you are seeking. If
someone has started a nursing mothers group in your parish, you can fellowship,
pray and discuss breastfeeding, natural family planning, Catholic motherhood,
and gentle parenting with other like-minded Catholic women at their
functions. If there isn’t currently a
group at your church, consider starting one yourself. There are resources on the CNML website that
will assist you.
If you are looking for more specific
information on breastfeeding management, you can attend breastfeeding support
meetings in your community during and after pregnancy. They are usually led by a trained
breastfeeding counselor or lactation consultant.
If you find yourself facing complex breastfeeding
issues, International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) can work
one on one with you to troubleshoot the problems and to help you achieve your
breastfeeding goals. IBCLCs, as other
health care professionals, normally charge for their services. However, most mothers will tell you that the
fee is well worth it! Also, don’t forget about finding a
breastfeeding friendly health care provider with whom you feel comfortable. Ask
friends and family for recommendations and consider interviewing your top
choices.
Last but not least, husbands are some of
the best supporters of breastfeeding, so keep him involved in all the reading
and classes you take.
In terms of practicalities, many nursing
moms find nursing bras indispensable. You'll want to pick a bra that is
comfortable, not too tight and big enough to allow for an increase in breast
size when your milk comes in. Breast
size can increase even one whole cup size after the baby is born and your milk
comes in! Sometimes underwire bras can
contribute to plugged ducts so picking a bra without underwire would be best if
possible. Many maternity stores have
staff that can assist you in finding the best fitting bra.
Breasts and nipples of all sizes are
perfectly suited to breastfeed successfully!
However, some types, such as inverted nipples, can make breastfeeding a
little more challenging in the beginning.
If you think you have inverted nipples, you may consider asking your
health care provider to confirm. If you
have inverted nipples, you can still nurse your baby! You may just need a little extra help with
latch after your baby is born. Some
women have found success using a nipple everter during pregnancy or after their
baby is born to drawn an inverted nipple out.
There is no need to do anything to prepare
your breasts for breastfeeding. The good
news is that pregnancy itself prepares a woman’s body perfectly well for
breastfeeding. You can be confident that just as your body knows how to
grow your baby perfectly according to God’s plan, your breasts know how to grow
and prepare to nurture your baby soon after birth!
(Excerpt from the book, Getting Started with Breastfeeding: For Catholic Mothers)
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