Like anything new, breastfeeding takes preparation and practice. Learn how receiving lactation support prior to your newborn's arrival help you meet you breastfeeding goals.
You’ve just arrived home from the hospital or birthing center. Perhaps, your newborn has lost more weight than expected.
Your hormones as mom are doing a deep nose-dive. Everything is tender post-birth, your transitional milk has come in, leaving your breasts feeling engorged and uncomfortable.
If you, as mom, received any intravenous fluids during delivery, you are likely still swollen between days four and seven. This swelling, along with breast engorgement, can cause everything in your breast area to feel tender. All this swelling has made it harder for your newborn to latch on.
Running on no sleep after an arduous labor and delivery, and anxious that your baby isn’t getting enough milk, you’re exhausted and feel like giving up.
Perhaps you expected breastfeeding to be difficult, but definitely not like this.
Breastfeeding is not easy.
Like anything new, it takes practice.
Just like anything new that you’d try, you probably won’t master it at the beginning. And in breastfeeding, there are two of you (or more if you delivered multiples!) that are learning a new skill.
Prenatal education and preparation has been linked to an increase in knowledge about positive breastfeeding practices and a longer duration of breastfeeding.
You can never guarantee what the start of your parenthood journey will look like, nor can you guarantee what your breastfeeding experience will be like. However, by gaining knowledge and finding support prior to the arrival of your baby, you can be better equipped to handle unexpected challenges and know where to go when you need support.
If you plan to breastfeed for any duration of your child's infancy, I highly encourage you to seek out support during your pregnancy. Your OB/GYN may have a recommendation for a local lactation professional, or may know of a local breastfeeding support group. Some health systems offer prenatal group classes as a part of their pregnancy care.
If you want a quick guide, full of information about what to expect in the first few weeks and months, tips for getting a great latch, and more, I developed the Breastfeeding Basics eGuide just for you!
Resources
CDC. (2023, August 7). Key Breastfeeding Indicators. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/data/facts.html.
Kehinde, J., O’donnell, C., & Grealish, A. (2022). The Effectiveness of Prenatal Breastfeeding Education on Breastfeeding Uptake Postpartum: A Systematic Review. Midwifery, 118, 103579. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2022.103579.
Pitts, A., Faucher, M. A., & Spencer, R. (2015). Incorporating Breastfeeding Education into Prenatal Care. Breastfeeding Medicine, 10(2), 118–123. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2014.0034.
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