Posts Tagged ‘breastfeeding’

3 Invaluable Tips for Mothers
Interested in Breastfeeding

I have been breastfeeding my son Landon now for two years and ten months, and if someone would have told me that I would breastfeed him this long, I would have looked at that person in disbelief. I am not only nursing a toddler — I have become an avid breastfeeding advocate and blog about my experience with it and other parenting adventures at Dagmar’s momsense (DagmarBleasdale.com). I encourage moms to breastfeed and provide them with the resources and information they might need for a successful, enjoyable experience. I want as many women as possible to learn that their health, not only their baby’s, will benefit greatly from the many advantages breastfeeding offers.

Here are three things I want every expecting or new mom to know:

1. Learn about breastfeeding long before the baby arrives: I was fortunate that I attended a couple of meeting with new, breastfeeding moms at the Pump Station in Los Angeles where it became very clear after only one hour that breastfeeding might be natural but definitely not easy. There were so many different issues those moms brought up! I think a lot of new moms get discouraged when they face stumbling blocks because they didn’t anticipate them. If you mentally prepare yourself that it might take a little while for you and the baby to figure out how to nurse correctly, it is easier to accept the challenge and stick with it. Read as much as possible about the topic, but more importantly, find a local group of breastfeeding moms (try Meetup.com) or attend La Leche League meetings while you are pregnant. The breastfeeding support and information you will garner is invaluable, and you will know whom to call when you need help.
2. Breastfeeding isn’t easy, and lining up the right support is crucial: It helped that I was determined to breastfeed — I didn’t even think to buy formula “just in case” and tossed out the samples from the hospital — but breastfeeding didn’t came naturally to me, as it doesn’t for so many women. Landon nursed every 25 minutes in the beginning, and for two weeks I was in immense pain every time he latched on. Only the second lactation specialist diagnosed Landon as a lazy baby who didn’t open his mouth nearly enough for an accurate latch. The other moms of the support group I belonged to were right — after a few days or weeks, breastfeeding doesn’t hurt if the baby latches on correctly. I was lucky to have those other moms as cheerleaders. Find your own support team — don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t wait to ask until you have a screaming, hungry, uncooperative baby on your hand! In the hospital, ask for the lactation consultant for guidance. If you have a midwife or doula, she will help you. I encourage every new mom to reach out to other breastfeeding moms, to call the La Leche League for free information, support, or a consultation when issues arise, or to call, e-mail, or tweet me for help. More resources or links to other organizations and groups can be found on my blog. I also have a blogroll of mommy bloggers who write about breastfeeding.
3. Breastfeeding success has a lot to do with the correct latch: Breastfeeding can be a difficult experience in the beginning, and that is usually due to the baby’s incorrect latch. A bad latch can often be corrected by trying a different position, using nipple shields, or inserting the nipple in a different way, which solved my problem immediately. Be patient with your baby and yourself — you are both getting to know each other. Find out if your baby is tongue tied or has a high palette, those are common reasons for a bad latch as well. Again, see a lactation specialist, La Leche leader, or talk to your pediatrician. Choose a pediatrician who supports your decision to breastfeed, if he or she doesn’t, find one who does!

To this day, I feel most like a mother when I am breastfeeding my son. My intuition that I would enjoy and cherish breastfeeding my child was correct, and I love the close bond it has created between us. And after learning about the many health benefits it provides not only for him but also for me, I am even more glad that he hasn’t self-weaned yet. Once he does, I will continue to enjoy helping other moms on their breastfeeding journeys, be it a short or a long one.

Dagmar Bleasdale grew up in Germany and moved to Los Angeles over 15 years ago. A married mom, she has one son who is 2 years old and still nursing. Dagmar works from home as a freelance editor, proofreader, and blogger! She started blogging to share information about breastfeeding – what she learned works and doesn’t work as well as the benefits – and to become a resource and trusted “friend” her readers can rely on for information. She is very passionate about her writing and in addition to breastfeeding, Dagmar also posts entries about Doula-assisted/unmedicated childbirth, attachment parenting, co-sleeping, natural remedies, frugal/green living, raising a healthy, creative, well-adjusted, bilingual child (without an XBox)!