It
seems like a secret that no one tells first time moms. Info abounds about how
good breastfeeding is for your baby so you’ve decided
that, since you only want what’s best for your baby, you’re going to
breastfeed. You’ll be the breastfeeding champ – the poster mom for
breastfeeding! And then after three or four days of trying it, you’re almost
ready to give up. HELP!
Breastfeeding
problems are extremely common among first-time moms, often causing them to
introduce formula or completely abandon breastfeeding within two months, report
researchers at the University of California, Davis, and the Cincinnati
Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
The study found that although 75 percent of
mothers in the United States initiate breastfeeding, only 13 percent of those
women ultimately breastfeed exclusively for the recommended first six months of
the child’s life. The most common concern was that the babies were not feeding
well at the breast (52 percent), followed by breastfeeding pain (44 percent)
and perceived lack of sufficient milk (40 percent). Education and support are
key to turning these numbers around.
If
you’re pregnant for the first time or planning a pregnancy, get some upfront facts about breastfeeding challenges. Talk
to a lactation consultant, contact La Leche League, before you deliver as well as once
the baby arrives. The first two weeks of breastfeeding are crucial for getting
good guidance and support. Don’t feel like you should be able to do this on
your own. It’s not like falling off a log – it takes education and work.
Prepare for challenges because there likely will be some. (Who would have
thought breastfeeding could hurt?!) Don’t despair and throw in the towel. Be
prepared to work through ups and downs. With help and after perhaps several
weeks of effort, for most women, everything should click into place.
Source: NewsMomsNeedat marchofimes.com
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