Set Yourself Up for Breastfeeding Success
The more I learn about breastmilk and what it does for mum and baby, the more I’m in awe of this amazing resource we have available when our babies are born. Although awareness for the importance breastfeeding on child development and mother’s wellbeing is increasing, there are still a huge number of people who either choose not to breastfeed at all, or stop breastfeeding early. For most women, they are simply not prepared for how difficult breastfeeding can be.
According to statistics by UNICEF, in the UK, 80% of women try to breastfeed at childbirth, but by 6 weeks postpartum only 24% are exclusively breastfeeding; by 3 months it’s down to 17% and by 6 months (the recommended minimum by WHO), just 1%.
For a seemingly natural, biological process, breastfeeding challenges can take new mums by surprise. And for many, that spells an early end to a natural process they hadn’t spent much of their pregnancy thinking about. Whether this is because of the stories we’ve been told, a culture of hiding breastfeeding, or simply too much advertising from the formula industry, we’ve somehow become used to the idea that breastfeeding can be dispensed with - because there are alternative options out there.
Without doubt, there are some women who are unable to breastfeed completely. But for many women who do stop breastfeeding early, much of the time the problem doesn’t lie in their beautiful body’s ability to produce breastmilk, but rather in lack of support and lack of knowledge of where to access good quality information, advice and support.
Get informed early
If you’re a first-time mum, spend your pregnancy learning as much as you get about breastfeeding. We get 9 months to get used to the idea of being pregnant and having a new addition to the family, and we can use that time wisely. One of the best things I did during my pregnancy was attend a 6-hour La Leche League course on breastfeeding. This meant I was surrounded by women who were planning on breastfeeding and learnt as much as I could about how it works as well as where to go for support and information.
There are also plenty of books to read to reinforce the learning. My favourite is The Food of Love, which is a pictorial guide with funny stories and pictures - perfect for that first week when you’re likely to be the most anxious about breastfeeding. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding is a fat tome published by the La Leche League and probably has everything you need to know about the theory of breastfeeding.
Attend a breastfeeding cafe
Your local council may run a breastfeeding cafe or drop-in support service. These are usually run by lactation experts and attended by breastfeeding mums at various stages of their journey. As well as getting expert advice, you’ll get peer support and suggestions on managing day-to-day concerns around the baby and breastfeeding. The Breastfeeding Network runs some drop ins too, and La Leche League run meetings regionally, usually monthly, led by an expert breastfeeding consultant who is on hand to consult on common problems such as position and attachment. They welcome pregnant women too, which is a great idea to attend if you can as the more you normalise and surround yourself with breastfeeding, the less of a scary prospect it will be! There will be other breastfeeding cafes in your area - a Google should easily bring them up.
Get support
The Breastfeeding Network has a phone helpline and live online chat support, and La Leche League also has a support phone line which is a good first port of call as sometimes just talking through your worries with an expert can make all the difference. Sometimes all you need is millimetres of adjustment in your baby’s latch.
In the early days, your midwife will be your best support for breastfeeding - use them as much as you can! They are on hand to help you work out positions and understand your baby’s cues.
“Breastfeeding should not be painful or difficult”
Breastfeeding should not be painful or difficult. If you are struggling and especially if you’re thinking of giving up, don’t waste time - get support from an expert lactation consultant. A Google should bring up who’s available in your area. Make sure they are qualified and members of a professional body; get recommendations from local mums if you can too. One of the best things I did for myself was get a lactation consultant to come in for a private consultation. I wasn’t having any particular problems but she reassured me that everything looked great and helped me learn to be comfortable while breastfeeding.
Finally, one of the most common reasons women stop breastfeeding is feeling they have a lack of support from their partners and community as a whole. Make sure your partner is an integral part of your research and learning about breastfeeding - they should also attend breastfeeding workshops and cafes during pregnancy if they can to learn how they can be a support to you. My husband was vital in the first few days - all those acronyms I had learnt during the various courses we’d attended had completely left my brain - but luckily he remembered and was able to help me get a great latch. When I was ready to venture out, I attended breastfeeding cafes which made me feel a part of larger community with the same values as me, and helped make me feel more confident in the face of criticism or unwanted advice who were not on the same breastfeeding journey as me.