Breastfeeding is a bit of a challenge sometimes for new moms. There is so much anxiety building up about doing it right and you feel a great deal of pressure because after all you are providing the sole nourishment for your new baby. This wouldn’t be so bad if breastfeeding was a snap and your baby latched on the first time with no problem, but that is not always the case. All in all this is not a recipe for a great new experience. There are however things you can do to make this the best experience possible for both mother and baby.
The first decision you need to make is whether you are going to breast feed at all. It is a personal choice and there is no right answer, accept the one that is right for you, however most prominent health organizations including the American Medical Association, advise that breastfeeding is the best choice for infants.
Your breast milk contains the optimum combination of nutrients for your baby’s health and development. Breastfeeding should be done exclusively for the first six months and partially for the following six months.
Breastfeeding in public can sometimes be a contentious issue. Please remember that there is nothing to feel embarrassed or ashamed about. A mother feeding her baby is a natural thing and not something you should feel you need to hide. This fact does not mean that you will not feel modesty and if it is your preference to nurse in a different room or not in a crowded restaurant, there is nothing wrong with this. It also helps to understand that some people just don’t know how to behave around a nursing mother. Should they avoid eye contact etc.? Because breasts are also sexual objects in North American society, breastfeeding in public just makes some people feel uneasy. That doesn’t make it right, but it’s a fact none the less.
It has been recommended by some that it is helpful to take calcium supplements while pregnant and breastfeeding, but this has been discounted by others. During pregnancy and the first few months of development a baby needs a great deal of calcium. The concern stems from the fact that if the mother does not get enough calcium, then the infant will draw what it needs from the mother’s bones. While breastfeeding you want to ensure you are providing your baby with its required daily dose of calcium.
After you have gotten past the initial learning period, you will find breastfeeding to be far easier and less hassle if you wear nursing bras. Ask your friends who chose to use formula about the effort associated with buying it, cleaning the equipment, getting it to the right temperature. Breast milk is especially convenient during late night feedings. Of course this presents a challenge for a father who wants to share in the feeding responsibilities; this can be overcome as well.
During the initial adjustment period, if you are having problems breastfeeding, but you do want to make it work, please ask for help. If you don’t click with it right away, it does not mean that you have to quit and switch to formula. You can be a good mother without breastfeeding, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept not breastfeeding if you would prefer not to.
A lesser known benefit of nursing is that it helps you lose weight and returns your uterus back to its normal size more quickly. Nursing consumes calories.
Returning to work is another challenge nursing mother’s face. Most will pump several times a day and then refrigerate it or freeze it for later. To thaw the frozen milk put it in warm water or let it slowly thaw in the fridge. You do not want to use a microwave as this will breakdown the milk’s nutrients and defeat the purpose of breastfeeding. Additionally this can make the milk too hot and risk scalding. Using a breast pump take a bit of getting used to so practice for awhile before going back to work.
It is in employer’s best interests to accommodate nursing mothers as much as possible. Women who can continue to breast feed can return to work much more quickly. Also children who are breastfed have shown to get sick less often when they are older which will mean the mother will need less sick days to care for sick kids.
I’ll stop it there for now if you have any breastfeeding questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
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