Breastfeeding has been touted far and wide for its positive impact on a baby's health. The vitamin-packed content of breast milk provides exactly the nutrients your baby needs - and it changes accordingly as your baby grows.
Breastfeeding strengthens a baby's immune system - causing fewer childhood allergies, illnesses and hospitalizations. It can even help prevent buck teeth and constipation.
But did you know that breastfeeding can benefit you just as much as your new bundle of joy? For moms, breastfeeding fosters a close bond between you and your baby. It also helps to return your uterus to its normal size. Breastfeeding can be relaxing, encourage you to take better care of yourself and help you return to your pre-pregnancy weight more quickly. What's more, it's very economical.
With all of those benefits, why do only 60 percent of new moms initiate breastfeeding while they're in the hospital? Some women think that in these busy times its just too difficult to breastfeed, says Cheryl Harrow, RNC, BSN, IBCLC, a certified lactation consultant at Hopkins Bayview. Many also hold on to the myths associated with nursing a baby.
These myths run the gamut: I can't breastfeed if I go back to work, Breastfeeding will hurt, or I can't breastfeed because my breasts are too small. Sound familiar? Debunking these myths and getting the right information about breastfeeding is one of the many reasons to develop a relationship with a lactation consultant like Cheryl.
A lactation consultant can offer professional advice about proper breastfeeding techniques. She's a crucial resource who can teach you how to do it properly and fit it into your busy schedule, Cheryl explains. Our ultimate goal is to teach new moms how to breastfeed so they, in turn, can teach their daughters.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, new mothers should try to breastfeed their babies for a full year. But even a few months or weeks is beneficial. Your lactation consultant can help you choose a time frame and schedule that is comfortable and practical for you and your family.
Moms who deliver at Hopkins Bayview benefit from access to a full-time lactation consultant who provides coaching and encouragement every step of the way. (Our labor & delivery and postpartum nurses also can provide support and education after hours.) If you would like more information about breastfeeding, call 410-550-BABY. If you would like to set up an appointment with a lactation consultant or get advice about breastfeeding your new baby, call pager number 410-237-9036 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Breastfeeding Made Easy
So you've made the decision to breastfeed - great! To help get you started, Bayview's certified lactation consultant, Cheryl Harrow, offers these tips to make breastfeeding easy, convenient and comfortable for you and your new baby.
- Read all about it. Cheryl recommends the book, The Nursing Mothers Companion by Kathleen Huggins. This regularly updated guide offers answers to frequently asked questions and walks you through common breastfeeding issues from the first week through one year.
- Prepare your breasts. When you decide you're going to breastfeed, stop cleaning your breasts with soap. While you're pregnant and during the time you breastfeed, clean your breasts with plain water. Your nipple will self-cleanse and prepare itself for breastfeeding.
- Meet with a lactation consultant. She can help you prepare for breastfeeding, recommend other resources, get you off to a good start and offer professional advice every step of the way.
- Take good care of yourself. Eat a well-balanced diet, drink lots of liquids and get plenty of rest.
- Nurse for your comfort as well as the baby's nutrition. You don't have to have a strict schedule for breastfeeding. If you are engorged, nurse the baby. If the baby is crying, nurse the baby.
- Give your baby access to your breast. Allow your baby to go to your breast whenever he or she is hungry. Monitor your baby's activity to determine when you need to breastfeed. Watch for urination and bowel movements. What goes in must come out. If your baby sleeps a lot, wake him or her up to breastfeed, if necessary for proper nutrition.
- Get up and go. Don't let your fear of breastfeeding in public keep you from being active. With some practice, you can learn how to breastfeed modestly and inconspicuously.
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