Planning For Breastfeeding Success

*Prenatal

Breastfeeding is a learned skill. With planning and preparation expectant parents can acquire empowering knowledge, pertinent information, and applicable education to increase breastfeeding skill, confidence, and success.

1. Attend a breastfeeding class with your support person. Choose an instructor who is knowledgeable, experienced, and credentialed, for example; board certified by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners. Learn about benefits, how-tos, challenges, breastfeeding evaluation, support, and resources.
2. Schedule interviews with prospective healthcare providers for the baby; discuss their philosophy on feeding methods, what staff and resources would be available to support breastfeeding, and how soon the baby will be seen after leaving the healthcare facility.
3. Discuss your breastfeeding goals and expectations with your healthcare providers. Determine what resources and support will be available at your healthcare facility.
4. Have a breast evaluation by a breastfeeding skilled healthcare provider.
5. Attend a breastfeeding moms group. Watch, ask, listen, learn.
6. Determine what your insurance will cover; fees/cost for classes, groups,
outpatient/home consults, breast pump and related supplies.
7. Read currently published breastfeeding educational materials.

*Early Postpartum

Breastfeeding is a learned skill. Frequent practice of effective breastfeeding helps increase skill, confidence, and milk production.

1. Watch for opportunities and encourage your baby to practice breastfeeding as soon as possible, usually within the first hour after birth, and often thereafter as indicated by early feeding cues, early signs of readiness:
squirming, stretching, squeaking, ......sucking, smacking, searching.
2. Keep the baby near-by to facilitate learning early cues, how to encourage feedings, positioning, latch-on, feeding evaluation, and any needed problem solving.
3. Keep your main support person near-by so that during your healthcare facility stay they can learn how to be helpful with breastfeeding. Other visitors who wish to be helpful could be at your house cooking and cleaning.
4. Attend:
~any available postpartum breastfeeding classes. Take home breastfeeding evaluation guidelines.
~postpartum breastfeeding moms groups in your community.
5. Recuperate from labor and delivery: for the next several weeks at home, focus on your top three priorities; feeding the baby, sleeping/resting, and eating/drinking nutritious foods and fluids.
6. Promptly seek guidance and support from qualified healthcare providers for any questions or concerns.


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©2002 Deborah Tobin RN BSN IBCLC LCCE. All rights reserved.
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