Childbirth and Breastfeeding
First of all, no matter what type of birth
you end up having - natural, medicated, vaginal, cesarean - you will most
likely be able to breastfeed your baby.
Even after a difficult or traumatic childbirth, breastfeeding can bring
about a wonderful experience of healing and bonding with a newborn, most of the
time quickly and effectively. The vast
majority - experts say ninety-five percent - of women are physically capable of
breastfeeding. That is good news and
part of God's design to keep the human race going. That being said, nursing at the breast can be
more challenging or delayed in certain circumstances. However, with education and support from
other nursing moms, a trained breastfeeding counselor or lactation consultant,
breastfeeding will most likely become easier and a natural part of your life as
a mother. Breastfeeding is the natural
continuation of the cycle that begins with pregnancy and birth.
Two easy ways to increase your chances of
having the best birth and early breastfeeding experience as possible are to
attend childbirth classes and to read a good childbirth book. Childbirth classes taught independent of
hospitals tend to have more information on natural birthing techniques and how
to avoid unnecessary interventions.
Nursing mother group meetings at your church and breastfeeding support
meetings in your community are good places to obtain recommendations for both
childbirth books and classes.
Husbands can be great labor coaches. However, many women like having the support
of another woman who has given birth herself, such as a friend or mother, in
addition to their spouses. There are
also labor doulas who have specialized training in supporting and encouraging
women in labor. Doulas have been shown
in the research evidence to improve mothers’ birth experiences and facilitate
un-medicated labors and breastfeeding (The
Baby Book, Revised and Updated Edition 2013, p.22-23). A parish nursing mothers group or a
childbirth or breastfeeding class is a good place to ask about local doulas.
It is ideal if the mother can avoid IV
fluids during labor and birth. Sometimes
too much fluid can cause breast engorgement which makes latching more
difficult. Also, certain medications can
make babies sleepy at birth. Striving for as un-medicated a birth as possible
will help ensure an awake baby, ready to breastfeed.
The first hour after birth is a very
special time for bonding and getting baby to the breast before he takes his
first long nap. Baths and other
post-birth activities can wait until after the first nursing. Hold your baby skin to skin as much as
possible in the first hour, and continue lots of loving and holding in the
early days postpartum. An un-medicated
baby placed on his mother's abdomen soon after birth is actually able to crawl
towards the breast and latch on without assistance! There are many unseen hormonal bonding
elements going on to help baby get off to a good start with breastfeeding - a
beautiful design!
If you do need a cesarean, you can still
breastfeed your baby! The key is to try
different breastfeeding positions that allow you and your baby to nurse successfully
and comfortably while staying away from your incision. Some possibilities:
sitting upright with a pillow over your lap to protect your incision, the
clutch hold (which is described in more detail in the “Latch and Position”
section), and the side-lying position (The
Baby Book, Revised and Updated Edition 2013, p.191).
Last but not least, writing a birth plan
and giving a copy to all birth attendants is another good idea. It is best to let everyone involved in your
birth know that you plan to breastfeed and that you do not want your baby to
have artificial nipples, bottles, water or formula unless medically
necessary. A positive birth experience
is always a help to getting breastfeeding off to a good start!
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