Preparing to Breastfeed

by Kim Neyer | More from this Blogger

22 Feb 2010 10:20 AM

Breastfeeding is a foreign concept to many new moms-to-be. The majority of babies are fed formula, so a woman is not likely to see a whole lot of nursing happening around her throughout her life. When I took a breastfeeding class while I was pregnant, the instructor asked, 'how many of you have ever seen a mother nurse her child?' Out of the whole room, only two or three women raised their hands. Because of this, breastfeeding can be hard for new moms because there is not a lot of support for her in terms of advice and help, because it's likely most of her friends have never done it, or only nursed for the first few weeks.

I highly recommend taking a breastfeeding class if you are thinking about nursing your baby. In addition to learning the proper technique for holding the baby and getting her to latch on correctly, breastfeeding classes will also teach you where to find support when you run into problems. You will likely walk away with a very large packet of resources for everything from sore nipples to mastitis to biting issues (don't worry, not every baby bites!) and more.

You may also wonder if you have to prepare your nipples for nursing. It was once believed that women should "rough up" their nipples with a toothbrush or wash cloth to prevent soreness, but this is actually not true. You could make things worse because you will irritate the skin and strip the natural oils that protect the nipple from chafing.

It is a good idea to stock up on some essentials before you begin your nursing journey. Having nipple cream, a few good nursing bras, and nursing pads on hand will make things a lot easier. They also have special pads that you can warm in the microwave or chill in the fridge to help with engorgement. Those can be a lifesaver! It's also helpful to have a good nursing book handy in case you have any questions. The book offered by La Leche League has a lot of really useful information. It even tells you how to safely lose weight while nursing without affecting your milk supply.

Learn more about Kim Neyer

Kim is a freelance writer, photographer and stay at home mom to her one-year-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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