bumblebeekee
Site Admin
Posts: 8
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Starting out right
Posted on: 04/09/2008 05:37 PM
Breastfeeding for many can be a beautiful experience for both mother and baby. There are many many reasons to breastfeed your child....from decreasing the risk for breast and ovarian cancers, to decreasing the risk of overweight, illnesses, and even dental caries in children.
The most important thing to understand about breastfeeding is that, you the mom are NOT breastfeeding, its YOUR BABY that is breastfeeding, and so it will be your job to assist your little one on how to breastfeed. The baby is fully capable of knowing when he/she is hungry.
If you are pregnant, NOW, not after the baby arrives, is the time to learn about breastfeeding...the same way you learn, research, and dissect the ins and outs of pregnancy....Join your local breastfeeding support groups (La Leche League International is a great start), and talk with breastfeeding moms about the ups and downs of breastfeeding.
Practice positions, understand what it means to get the latch/attachment right, understand the differences between a good latch and a poor latch, learn your hospital's policy on initiating breastfeeding,as well as rooming-in.
And always, always remember that you don't have to do this alone.....Your pediatrician, ob/gyn is NOT a breastfeeding consultant. they do not have extensive, detailed training on positions, latching, cues, behaviors, or even troubleshooting through problems, which is why lactation consultants are in business!
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