Lactation is for Lovers!
Here’s a bit of honesty for you…before I was pregnant with
Eisley, I wasn’t even sure what ‘lactation’ meant! Formulas and breastfeeding
didn’t really matter to me since they hadn’t yet affected me personally. A few
of my friends already had babies and I knew they typically drank from a bottle.
Not once did I question what was actually IN the bottle, or how it got there.
My lack of knowledge along with my urge to research everything led me to taking
a variety of classes during my pregnancy. Many soon-to-be parents take the
typical birthing classes, but we also took Parenting Basics (I learned how to
change a diaper and about weird things like Cradle Cap), Prenatal Yoga (hello
Kegel exercises), and best of all, a 2-day BREASTFEEDING class.
Here is a list of resources that I hope will help you
prepare for your new baby, improve your current breastfeeding situation, or for
you to pass along to a friend that may be struggling:
How did I have NO IDEA all there is to learn about
nursing? No wonder new moms have such a difficult and often painful time. The Center
for Disease Control’s 2014 Breastfeeding Report Card shows 49% of babies still
breastfeeing at six months old in addition to supplementing formula, and only
18% of babies EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding at six months old. Only 26% of babies
are still breastfeeding at twelve months old. I believe that breastfeeding classes should be available to
ALL soon-to-be moms, either on a sliding pay scale or better yet, FREE.
Hospitals, birthing centers, pregnancy clinics, churches, or even non-profit
organizations would be great platforms to educate women about nursing and also
educate their spouses/partners with ways they can support the process.
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| Our first attempt to nurse! |
Did you know about the numerous positions to try while
nursing, such as the cradle hold, cross-cradle hold, football hold,
reclining
back, or side-lying position? What about the importance of ensuring a
proper
latch to reduce nipple pain and to make sure your baby is swallowing
correctly?
I was surprised to learn that majority of insurances will provide you
with a
breast pump for FREE or that hospitals will let you rent one! I also
discovered many natural methods of improving your milk supply including
certain foods or herbs, which I will write an entirely separate post
about. There is an abundance
of helpful information to help you approach breastfeeding with
confidence. If
you are able to meet with a Lactation Consultant, please do so! They are
specialists who can help you individually according to your unique body
and
baby. I nursed Eisley exclusively until six months old, then continued
to nurse until she was 23 months old. We definitely had our share of
struggles, but the bond we created and our health benefits are totally
worth it.
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