Providing Breastfeeding Support
Helping New Moms Nurse Their Babies Successfully
If you want to help new mothers have a positive breastfeeding experience, here are five ways to lend support.
When you’re a successful nursing mom, it’s natural to want to help other new mothers to be successful, too. Here are some ways you can encourage a new mom to breastfeed her baby to six months, a year, and beyond.
Breastfeeding Rates in the United States
Everyone agrees that breastfeeding should be the norm, yet in North America we see mothers bottle feeding on a regular basis. According to a 2004 study done by the CDC National Immunization Program, approximately 74 percent of mothers in the United States initiate breastfeeding, yet only 55 percent are still breastfeeding at 3 months and only 41.5 percent are still breastfeeding six months after birth.
WHO Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding
Why are these moms weaning so soon? Of course there are a variety of reasons, including a return to the workplace, breastfeeding difficulties in the early weeks, and the clever marketing of infant formula. The World Health Organization in their 2003 Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding recommends that all mothers exclusively breastfeed for six months and continue to breastfeed up to two years or beyond. How can you, as a breastfeeding advocate, help a mother and her child to move toward these goals?
5 Ways to Encourage a Mom to Continue Breastfeeding
- Provide her with information before the baby arrives. La Leche League Leader Lesley Robinson tells Suite 101 the first priority is to ensure a mother has crucial breastfeeding information before the baby is born. “In too many cases the first contact with LLL happens when there is a problem. The more information a mother has, the more likely she will be to avoid difficulties.” (2007 interview)
- Visit and call her often after the baby arrives. The first week can make or break a nursing relationship, especially when problems arise and the professional support is not adequate. I recommend providing hands-on breastfeeding support each day for the first couple of days, and then again when her milk comes in. If all is going well, a daily phone call will give her the chance to share any concerns with you until she feels completely confident. Check in weekly until the six week mark.
- If she’s having difficulties, ensure she gets help. A poor latch or a bout with thrush can destroy a nursing relationship early on. Ensure that a mother who is having pain or has a baby who is gaining poorly sees a certified Lactation Consultant and/or seeks help from a local La Leche League group. Pediatricians and family doctors are often not the best professionals to consult regarding breastfeeding difficulties, as they can be quick to recommend formula as a solution rather than resolving the breastfeeding issues.
- Use breastfeeding-friendly language. While it’s tempting to spout, “breast is best” and to talk about that “special bond”, these may not be the best words to use to encourage a mom who is on the fence. Try reinforcing that breastfeeding is the normal way to feed babies and that women were meant to do it. Remind her that formula and bottles are an artificial means of feeding babies, and that they carry unnecessary risks.
- Remind her that it does get easier. The first six weeks are usually the most difficult. Let her know that after a month or two, nursing will become a simple, pleasant experience for both of them. If you are currently nursing a child, you can be a model for her. When she sees your baby happily nursing at your breast while you carry on a conversation with her at the same time, it might help her feel that she can do it, too . . . and that she wants to.
