Jun
28
By Sarah Pugh
According to statistics, over 95% of women in Victoria leaving Vic General breastfeed their newborns. Yet three months later, the numbers drop by nearly half. Most women indicate that they want to breastfeed, and very few have physiological issues (like current radiation or chemotherapy, rare medications, or previous mastectomy) that preclude it. So why do only half the women who try, succeed? More importantly, how can you ensure you'll be in the half that does?
While it's true that there's little you can do physically to prepare (no, "toughening up" your nipples doesn't do a darned thing), there are a few things you can do and learn so that this supposedly "natural and instinctive" act doesn't get the better of you.
Read up on what's normal. Get a good breastfeeding book, and there are many, but I typically recommend either Jack Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding for moms who enjoy more in-depth, scientific type writing, or Bestfeeding by Mary Renfrew, Chloe Fisher and Suzanne Arms. Read only the sections on initiating breastfeeding, early weeks, and glitches and how to deal with them. Read those bits a few times. Yes, there'll be a quiz.
Watch other moms breastfeed their babies. Oh, I know it's theoretically rude to stare, but find someone who is comfortable, preferably with a quiet young baby, and ask if you can watch. Ideally this is a sister, other relative, or close friend of yours; but if you don't know anyone breastfeeding, attend a La Leche League meeting. You will be welcomed with open arms and most (if not all) the women there will be happy to have you observe their wee ones at the breast. This is important for a few reasons. It really helps to see how nursing sessions can vary, how holds can vary, and what a proper latch looks like with a variety of different babies and breasts. If you can, watch from over someone's shoulder - this will give you approximately the same perspective as nursing your own baby.
Understand that not all medical professionals are well-trained in lactation matters. Unfortunately, this may include nurses and physicians on the Mother-Babe unit at Vic General, for example. Many of the nurses are excellent, but not all have had training in coaching new mothers to breastfeed. Be cautious of anyone who tries to help baby latch on by pushing the back of the baby's head into your breast. (Pushing the upper back may work well in some instances, but it's best to let the baby latch itself.) Be prepared to ask for a hands-off approach if you feel you and the baby are not doing well with a more involved coaching style. You can also ask for the lactation consultant; however, she is not a full-time employee and may not be available.
Develop your birth plan with breastfeeding in mind. Some interventions may have an impact on breastfeeding initiation. In some studies, epidurals have been linked to difficulties breastfeeding, but not in others. If at all possible, request that your baby be placed on your chest or abdomen immediately after birth (before weighing) and that necessary examinations take place there until an initial latch has been accomplished. This immediate skin-to-skin contact helps trigger the baby's nursing instincts and will help nursing go smoothly. If you have a C-section scheduled, just be aware that it might make your milk a bit slower to come in, but that's no reason to panic or think that breastfeeding won't work for you.
Know where to get help. In the hospital, ask for the lactation consultant. At home, ask your midwife if you have one; ask a public health nurse if you don't. You will be visited by a public health nurse soon after your baby's birth but you don't need to wait for that. If you really need help, call the Cook St. Health Unit (250-388-2200) and it will either send a nurse or let you know when the next breastfeeding "clinic" at the Health Unit is. There are several IBCLC-certified public health nurses on staff and they are all fantastic. Alternately, there are several good private breastfeeding educators you can call (I usually recommend Eva Bild at Mothering Touch, which is conveniently close by), or you can call your local La Leche League (250-727-4384) for help. If you had a doula, she may be able to help. Nobody, and I mean nobody, who is remotely involved in breastfeeding education will object to a call from a new mother, no matter how trivial the problem turns out to be. Be prepared to call before you become stressed. Humans evolved as social animals and, as such, we need help with things like this.
Get comfy. You will need a chair or couch with arm rests at the right height, or you will need good pillows. Cable TV is a very good idea. So are videos. Also, have your partner get good at making food you can eat with one hand. Newborns nurse a lot and they take their time doing it. You will be stuck on the couch, so think of it as a vacation. This is kind of the fun part - not only is it totally okay to sit on the couch and watch TV for hours and hours, it's practically mandatory. Enjoy, because it won't last.
Relax. This is the hardest part. Women in our culture are pressured to breastfeed, but most of us have no real knowledge of what's involved. We don't have breastfeeding dolls; we don't get to practice on younger siblings or cousins; we don't see women breastfeeding every day because of our cultural insistence on "covering up." But we CAN still do it. It may take some effort (although not always - there are many happy stories of babies just latching on and it's all good from there) but it always gets easier, and it's always worth it in the end. You'll probably enjoy it - breastfeeding can be an overwhelmingly lovely experience. Trust yourself and trust your baby. You guys can do it.
Sarah Pugh is a post-partum doula, certified breastfeeding educator, writer, and mom.