Foolproof Breastfeeding Success
Follow my advice, and you will be able to nurse your new baby.
1. During pregnancy, do not purchase bottles or pacifiers.
2. During pregnancy, and after the baby is born, do not have artificial milk substitutes (formula) in the house.
3. During pregnancy, see a doctor to examine your breasts. Rule out hypoplastic breasts.
4. During pregnancy, determine any nipple issues, and learn how to troubleshoot.
5. During pregnancy, evaluate any medications you are taking, and research breastfeeding friendly alternatives, or consider delaying treatment. A good (unmedicated) birth experience and successful breastfeeding often significantly reduces the need for anti-depressants.
6. Do not give birth in the hospital. If you must give birth in a hospital, follow these important steps.
A. Do not allow your labor to be induced, or augmented by Pitocin.
1. If you must be induced, follow all of the following instructions:
B. Do not have an epidural, or any other medication to manage pain.
C. Do not allow the hospital staff to do internal exams during your labor. (they may break your water, or not like your 'progress')
D. Have a birth doula.
7. After the baby is born, do not allow the cord to be cut until the placental transfusion is complete.
8. Immediately after birth, have the baby placed on your bare belly with a blanket over you. Do not have the baby washed. Do not allow vigorous wiping of vernix. Maintain skin to skin contact for (at least!) an hour. Keep baby exposed to the breast so they can nurse if they are interested.
9. Delay or decline routine newborn shots and procedures. They can wait an hour.
10. Room in. If your hospital does not allow rooming in, have someone else stay with you for your entire stay. They will usually "allow" you to keep the baby with you then.
11. LEAVE THE HOSPITAL within 24 hours. The reason most hospital stays last several days is because the pediatrician needs to see the baby to discharge. You can remedy this by choosing a pediatrician before you go in to the hospital, and arranging for them to be there a few hours after birth. Or, you can just LEAVE. They can't make you stay.
12. Do not allow bottles or pacifiers to be given in the hospital. Babies will not have low blood sugar if the cord is not cut before the placental transfusion is complete, and they are with their mother. Nurse frequently if baby is interested. If the baby doesn't nurse, lie to the nurses and say the baby has been nursing.
(I suggest having someone; your partner, doula, or friend wth you to help you make your decisions known)
13. Once you are home, sleep with your baby.
14. Give your baby unrestricted access to the breast. Use a sling if your arms get tired.
15. GO TO BREASTFEEDING PEOPLE FOR BREASTFEEDING PROBLEMS. DO NOT TAKE ADVICE FROM YOUR OB OR PEDIATRICIAN ON BREASTFEEDING MATTERS. You can start with La Leche League. If you need a Lactation Consultant, ask a La Leche League Leader for a recommendation. If you seek a Lactation Consultant on your own, first try one that does not work through a hospital.
16. If you have concerns about your supply, do not supplement with bottles.
A. Weigh baby before and after a feeding. On an accurate baby scale. Do this several times. Determine if baby is getting sufficient milk.
B. See a doctor to rule out PCOS, retained placenta, anemia, and check your prolactin levels.
C. Nurse as frequently as possible. Wake a sleepy baby and initiate feedings. Realise that supply and demand regulate your supply. Supplements given off the breast can affect your supply.
17. If you must supplement, use a Lact-Aid or finger-feeding method. If you have a genuine supply issue, use galactagogues.
Additionally, I recommend purchasing The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book Of Answers to help you understand and correct common problems.
If you have any questions about my reasons for any of these instructions, or any suggestions for success tips, please comment!
Special Circumstances: Women who have undergone breast reduction surgery may have sustained a great deal of damage to their nipple and breast, making breastfeeding more difficult, or even impossible. The milk supply may be compromised, but breastfeeding is usually still possible using a Lact-Aid.
1. During pregnancy, do not purchase bottles or pacifiers.
2. During pregnancy, and after the baby is born, do not have artificial milk substitutes (formula) in the house.
3. During pregnancy, see a doctor to examine your breasts. Rule out hypoplastic breasts.
4. During pregnancy, determine any nipple issues, and learn how to troubleshoot.
5. During pregnancy, evaluate any medications you are taking, and research breastfeeding friendly alternatives, or consider delaying treatment. A good (unmedicated) birth experience and successful breastfeeding often significantly reduces the need for anti-depressants.
6. Do not give birth in the hospital. If you must give birth in a hospital, follow these important steps.
A. Do not allow your labor to be induced, or augmented by Pitocin.
1. If you must be induced, follow all of the following instructions:
B. Do not have an epidural, or any other medication to manage pain.
C. Do not allow the hospital staff to do internal exams during your labor. (they may break your water, or not like your 'progress')
D. Have a birth doula.
7. After the baby is born, do not allow the cord to be cut until the placental transfusion is complete.
8. Immediately after birth, have the baby placed on your bare belly with a blanket over you. Do not have the baby washed. Do not allow vigorous wiping of vernix. Maintain skin to skin contact for (at least!) an hour. Keep baby exposed to the breast so they can nurse if they are interested.
9. Delay or decline routine newborn shots and procedures. They can wait an hour.
10. Room in. If your hospital does not allow rooming in, have someone else stay with you for your entire stay. They will usually "allow" you to keep the baby with you then.
11. LEAVE THE HOSPITAL within 24 hours. The reason most hospital stays last several days is because the pediatrician needs to see the baby to discharge. You can remedy this by choosing a pediatrician before you go in to the hospital, and arranging for them to be there a few hours after birth. Or, you can just LEAVE. They can't make you stay.
12. Do not allow bottles or pacifiers to be given in the hospital. Babies will not have low blood sugar if the cord is not cut before the placental transfusion is complete, and they are with their mother. Nurse frequently if baby is interested. If the baby doesn't nurse, lie to the nurses and say the baby has been nursing.
(I suggest having someone; your partner, doula, or friend wth you to help you make your decisions known)
13. Once you are home, sleep with your baby.
14. Give your baby unrestricted access to the breast. Use a sling if your arms get tired.
15. GO TO BREASTFEEDING PEOPLE FOR BREASTFEEDING PROBLEMS. DO NOT TAKE ADVICE FROM YOUR OB OR PEDIATRICIAN ON BREASTFEEDING MATTERS. You can start with La Leche League. If you need a Lactation Consultant, ask a La Leche League Leader for a recommendation. If you seek a Lactation Consultant on your own, first try one that does not work through a hospital.
16. If you have concerns about your supply, do not supplement with bottles.
A. Weigh baby before and after a feeding. On an accurate baby scale. Do this several times. Determine if baby is getting sufficient milk.
B. See a doctor to rule out PCOS, retained placenta, anemia, and check your prolactin levels.
C. Nurse as frequently as possible. Wake a sleepy baby and initiate feedings. Realise that supply and demand regulate your supply. Supplements given off the breast can affect your supply.
17. If you must supplement, use a Lact-Aid or finger-feeding method. If you have a genuine supply issue, use galactagogues.
Additionally, I recommend purchasing The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book Of Answers to help you understand and correct common problems.
If you have any questions about my reasons for any of these instructions, or any suggestions for success tips, please comment!
Special Circumstances: Women who have undergone breast reduction surgery may have sustained a great deal of damage to their nipple and breast, making breastfeeding more difficult, or even impossible. The milk supply may be compromised, but breastfeeding is usually still possible using a Lact-Aid.