If you’re expecting a baby, you have probably already started thinking about all the pros and cons of breastfeeding. Research shows that you bond more with your baby when you breastfeed, and your baby will reap benefits including better health and perhaps even higher intelligence. Studies also show that breastfeeding moms lose weight faster and reduce their risk of breast cancer.
Those are all wonderful reasons to decide to breastfeed your baby. However, as you begin and as the months go by, you may encounter some obstacles. Here are ways to handle them:
- You can’t get the hang of it. In the first hours after birth, you don’t produce much milk, but you do produce colostrum, which is really good for your baby. If you have a hard time when you first try to breastfeed, don’t give up. A lactation consultant can offer you tips, and your baby will soon figure out what she needs to do when she’s hungry.
- It hurts. If you develop sore nipples, you probably aren’t positioning your baby just right as you nurse. Talk to a lactation consultant if you need
help, and use lanolin cream to sooth your achiness. You may also hurt if you have developed an infection. Call your doctor for advice, but the condition will usually clear up as you continue to breastfeed. Other issues include engorgement and clogged milk ducts. In both cases, feed your baby often, and the problems should cease. If you are in pain, try putting cold compresses on your breasts between feedings.
- Your mom or grandma doesn’t understand. If you start to breastfeed your baby at a family event, you may get some disapproving looks from the relatives. Prior generations may not have considered breastfeeding to be necessary (and formula was so convenient). Explain to them why this matters to you and offer to find a private place to feed your little one.
- Dad feels left out. If you’re always the one feeding the baby, your partner may feel like he’s not playing a big role. Encourage him to contribute in other ways, such as with bathing or helping the baby get to sleep. You can also pump breast milk and store it in bottles so Dad can feed the baby later. This is great if you need to run an errand or just take a few hours off.
- You have to go back to work. Depending on what you do for a living, it may be hard to take breaks throughout the day to pump breast milk and then store it to take home. However, U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin recently urged companies to be more accommodating to their new mom employees. This means they should provide reasonable break times and a private place for you to pump. If you are heading back to work, talk to your supervisor and explain how important this issue is to you.
Remember that there are times when you shouldn’t breastfeed, such as if you have a medical condition or are taking medications that can harm your baby. You may also choose not to nurse, and that decision is completely up to you. Talk to your doctor about what is right for your situation.
To learn more about breastfeeding, register for one of the Breastfeeding Classes, which meet twice a month on Tuesdays, at Plantation General Hospital. Visit us online or call Consult-A-Nurse® at 1-866-442-2362. Serving Plantation and Central Broward County, we’re here to answer all your questions.
Sources:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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