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Info For Moms Choosing to Breastfeed

Breastfeeding a new baby for the first time is not always easy and often painful. The learner breastfeeding mother need lots of support and determination to keep breastfeeding. Support from family and partners is critical.

If you are pregnant, the following should get you off to the best start:

1. Decide why you want to breastfeed and if you feel strongly about it, stay determined.

2. Try to find a good breastfeeding class to attend prior to the birth of your baby

3. Attend your nearest La Leche League meeting and plan to continue until you feel confident.

4. Purchase and a good breastfeeding book such as The Womanly art of Breastfeeding by Anwar Fazal (La Leche League) or The breastfeeding book by William and Martha Sears

5. After the birth ask to see the hospital's lactation consultant as often as you need to.

6. Get help from an experienced breastfeeding mother that you know.

7. Have on hand the name of a lactation consultant you can call on if you are having difficulties after you leave the hospital.

8. Don't let anyone make you feel pressured or feel guilty if it does not work out or if you choose to supplement with formula.

How to use this information: If you are just starting out and have not been able to attend a class etc,  the following articles have been chosen to give you a good introduction to breastfeeding.

Remember to GET HELP if you are having soreness or difficulty that lasts more than one feeding. To find out where to get help, click here.

INDEX 

Why Breastfeed?

Benefits for Mom

A Well-Kept Secret - Breastfeeding's Benefits to Mothers
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBJulAug01p124.html

Alicia Dermer, MD, IBCLC, Old Bridge NJ USA, From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 18 No. 4, July-August 2001, p. 124-127

Benefits For Baby

HOW HUMAN MILK PROTECTS FROM ILLNESS
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020600.asp

BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020300.asp

MYTHS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Common Breastfeeding Myths
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/LVAprMay98p21NB.html

By Lisa Marasco, Assistant Area Professional Liaison, LLL of Southern California/Nevada USA, From: LEAVEN, Vol. 34 No. 2, April-May 1998, pp. 21-24

HOW YOUR BREASTS MAKE MILK

HOW THE BREASTS MAKE AND DELIVER MILK
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020900.asp

HOW TO BREASTFEED - TECHNICAL ASPECTS

Latching On
http://www.parentingweb.com/lounge/bf_basics/latchon.htm

When Latching by Anne J Barnes, 1995

http://users.erols.com/cindyrn/31.htm

PROPER POSITIONING AND LATCH-ON SKILLS
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021000.asp

OTHER BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021200.asp

Offering the Breast
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021000.asp

GETTING ENOUGH MILK - SUPPLY AND DEMAND

GETTING ENOUGH MILK?
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022600.asp

WHEN TO START BREASTFEEDING

Establishing Your Milk Supply: Starting Out Right
http://www.breastfeeding-basics.com/html/establishing.shtm

AVOIDING OR TREATING PROBLEMS

BREASTFEEDING AFTER A CESAREAN
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021400.asp

BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC
Nursing Discreetly
http://www.breastfeeding-basics.com/html/discrete.shtm

COMMON PROBLEMS

ENGORGEMENT
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021700.asp

NOT ENOUGH MILK - INCREASING YOUR SUPPLY

INCREASING YOUR MILK SUPPLY
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022800.asp

FLAT OR INVERTED NIPPLES

http://www.breastfeeding-basics.com/html/flat_inverted.shtml

SORE NIPPLES
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021900.asp

CANDIDA (YEAST) INFECTION ON NIPPLES

Yeast Infections and the Breastfeeding Family: Helping mothers find relief for symptoms and treatment for the infection preserves the breastfeeding relationship http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVOctNov98p91.html
Karen Zeretzke, From: LEAVEN, Vol. 34 No. 5, October-November 1998, pp. 91-96

CANDIDA (YEAST OR THRUSH) INFECTION ON NIPPLES
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T028100.asp

NIPPLE CONFUSION
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022400.asp

SORE BREASTS
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022000.asp

PLUGGED MILK DUCTS
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022100.asp

MASTITIS
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022200.asp

BREAST ABSCESS
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022300.asp

BABY FIGHT'S BREAST
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T029800.asp

BABY BITING BREAST
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T029900.asp

COLIC-CAUSING FOODS IN BREASTFEEDING
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T083301.asp

PUMPING AND STORING BREASTMILK

 BREASTPUMPS

Breastpumps 101
http://www.breastfeed-essentials.com/pumps101.html

STORING AND TRANSPORTING BREAST MILK
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/t026900.asp
Products for storage of breastmilk

Test Your Breastfeeding IQ
http://www.breastfeeding-basics.com/html/test_your_breastfeeding_iq.shtml

RECOMMENDED BOOKS AND WEBSITES

Books

The Womanly art of Breastfeeding by Anwar Fazal (La Leche League)

The breastfeeding book by William and Martha Sears

Websites

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020100.asp (Dr William Sears and Martha Sears)

http://www.breastfeeding-basics.com/html/info.shtml (Breastfeeding Basics website by Anne Smith, BA, IBCLC

http://www.lalecheleague.org/bfinfo.html (La Leche League International)

Sources

Most of the above articles were found at: www.askdrsears.com  www.breastfeeding-basics.com, and www.lalecheleague.org.

BREASTFEEDING MOMS IN PAIN OR WORRIED..

Get help if you need advice about breastfeeding or pumping (expressing milk), or if you  experiencing any pain during nursing.

Where to get help..

Contact La Leche League International
Click here to find a La Leche leader in the USA
Click here to find La Leche Groups around the world
OR
Consult with a Lactation Consultant
Click here to find a Board Certified Lactation Consultant in the USA
Click here to find a Lactation Consultant in Chicago
Click here for world wide lactation consultant directory

"Never again, never in the future that dawned later on, were we so sated. We were suckled and suckled. Always superabundance was flowing into us. Never any question of enough is enough or let's not overdo it. Never were we given a pacifier and told to be reasonable. It was always suckling time.”
Günter Grass. The Flounder

If you are struggling in anyway
or would like someone to talk to about mothering concerns,
please email: Kim@themommyblues.com. 

As a psychotherapist, postpartum counselor and mother's coach, Kim Richardson specializes in helping and supporting all moms who are stressed and overwhelmed. She works with new mothers during pregnancy, adoption, fertility and early motherhood and has specialized in treatment, education and diagnosis of postpartum depression.

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