Making the decision
whether or not to breastfeed is one that only you can make. It’s not up to your
husband or partner, your parents or siblings, or your friends and coworkers.
But once you have decided to breastfeed your baby, you’ll need to do a few
things to prepare.
Once you’ve decided to
become a nursing mother, there are some things you can do to prepare yourself
for this new chapter in your life. One of the best ways to prepare is to
research breastfeeding. Read books and magazine articles. Talk with women who
have nursed or who are currently nursing their children. Watch TV programs that
talk about nursing. We live in a time when there’s almost too much information
– but better too much than not enough.
Beyond researching
breastfeeding, there are other things you’ll need to do before your welcome
your baby into the world.
Prepare Your Pediatrician
If you can, ask your
friends, acquaintances, and ob/gyn for their recommendations for a
pediatrician. Ideally, you want to have a doctor lined up before your baby
arrives. It’s a good idea to talk with your doctor of choice while you are in
your second or third trimester. (You may have to pay for this visit out of
pocket.)
When you arrive at the
office, take a look around. Are materials from formula manufacturers out in the
waiting room? Is information for mothers who want to nurse available in the
waiting room?
Let the doctor know
that you plan to breastfeed and ask questions that will enable you to determine
how supportive the doctor will be. For example:
How do you feel about breastfeeding?
How long do you feel a baby should breastfeed?
About how many of the babies in your practice are being
nursed?
How often should I nurse my baby?
How will I know if my baby is getting enough milk? (See
this article for information on this subject.)
When would you consider supplementation with water or
formula to be necessary?
What is the protocol if the baby has low blood sugar or
jaundice?
If the answers to your
questions are lukewarm or along the lines of “formula is just as good” as
nursing, interview another pediatrician before you make any decisions.
Prepare Your Body
Guess what? You don’t
need to do anything to prepare your body for nursing. It used to be that women
were told that they needed to “toughen” their nipples for the rigors of
nursing. Ugh! Relax. Just avoid using any kind of soaps or other products that
might dry out the skin on your nipples.
If you believe (or are
worried) that your nipples may be flat or inverted, just ask your ob/gyn to check
them for you during one of your prenatal visits. If they are flat or inverted,
your physician will be able to tell you how this might affect nursing and what
you can do to address the issue.
Prepare Your Wardrobe
The #1 item you need in
your wardrobe is a nursing bra – at least two to three are a good idea. Your
breasts will change dramatically when your milk comes in and nursing begins.
Just as your breasts have changed size and shape during your pregnancy, they
will continue to change during the postpartum period and beyond.
Every woman has
different likes and dislikes when it comes to bras; however, at the very least,
a nursing bra should:
Provide good support without being tight (which can
affect milk production)
Be able to accommodate a modest range of cup sizes –
before nursing your breasts might be a full cup size or two larger than they
will be after you’ve nursed your baby.
Be easy to open with one hand
Should not have plastic liners, which will trap
moisture and lead to soreness.
If you know any women
who have nursed, you can ask them for their bra recommendations and find out
what they liked and didn’t like about their nursing bras.
Other items that you
might want to consider adding to your wardrobe are nursing nightgowns and
nursing tops. However, neither are truly “must haves.” Roomy tops that can be
pulled up or unbuttoned from the bottom and still keep you covered can work
just as well. During the first few weeks you’ll be able to experiment and see
what works for you. If you have any friends who nursed, you can ask if they
have any nursing tops you can borrow so that you can take them for a test
drive.
Prepare Those Around You
It used to be that every
baby was nursed … either by his own mother or by a professional wet nurse.
During the 1900s, formula was introduced as the modern way to feed babies.
You’d prepare an exact amount of formula, which was touted as being every bit
as good as breast milk, and know exactly how much your baby consumed at any
feeding. Plus, anyone could feed your baby.
Every woman has to
choose for herself how to nourish her baby. But it’s important to recognize
that some people (your husband or partner, parents, grandparents, in-laws,
siblings, friends) may never have been exposed to the idea of nursing and may
find it strange that a woman would prefer to nurse rather than bottle-feed.
Just keep in mind that
you will be the mother of your child, and making the decision to nurse is just
the first of many, many decisions you’ll make for the health, safety, and
welfare of your child. You are the mother, and your decisions are the ones that
matter. Most people are just curious … some want to share their opinions. You
might want to think now about how you can respond to the questions and comments
you may get during your nursing “career” so that you can give a calm, confident
response when the time comes.
“Be prepared” ... it may be
the motto of the Boy Scouts, but it works equally well for moms and women who
are soon-to-be nursing moms.
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