Set Breastfeeding up for Success
There are 3 key ways to set breastfeeding up for success if that is your infant feeding goal.
1) Learn about breastfeeding prenatally! Having an idea of what to expect, variations of normal and what is common but not normal can save you a huge amount of stress and headache in the early postpartum. There are tons of online prenatal breastfeeding classes out there, your local health unit or hospital may offer a prenatal breastfeeding class or you can find a local in person breastfeeding class (like this one). This gives you a chance to ask all your questions as soon as they pop into your head and please bring your postpartum support team so that theycan learn all of the good information too!
2) Set up your breastfeeding support team prenatally. If breastfeeding is important to you, tell the people that will be around you in postpartum about why that is so that they can support you in the challenging moments rather than undermine your confidence. Rather than taking the baby from you so you can get something to eat, they can bring food and a really big glass of water to where you are snuggling your baby skin to skin. Rather than connecting with the baby by giving them a bottle, your partner can be the designated chest on which baby does tummy time, can be the expert baby bather, the all star diaper changer and can snuggle baby during contact naps. Having a support system that tells you that you are doing an amazing job, even when things feel hard can make all the difference.
3) Know where to get help and reach out early once your baby arrives. Having the contact information for a lactation consultant in your area somewhere close by and easily accessible in the postpartum period can make the difference between a small adjustments early on that support you to meet your breastfeeding goals and feeling defeated or discontinuing your breastfeeding relationship before you had planned to. Most breastfeeding issues are easier to solve the sooner you see an IBCLC, you can even put a postpartum visit with an IBCLC on your registry.
