Breastfeeding is normal, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy unless you get informed about it.
Breastfeeding is normal- biologically, it’s the normal way to feed a baby. Breast milk helps keep your baby healthy.It supplies all the necessary nutrients in the proper proportions. It protects againstl allergies, sickness, and obesity. We can just go on and on about Breastfeeding benefits.
And that’s all well and good until I get a phone call from a sobbing mother who doesn’t understand why they’re in pain when they nurse the baby or why the baby isn’t gaining any weight even when they’re nursing 24hrs a day and they say to me “I didn’t think it was going to be this hard!!”
Here’s what I think. In order for something to work out fine to us, we need to put effort to know about it. We need to have evidence based information on breastfeeding, to know what’s normal and what isn’t? And how do we do that? By LEARNING. Well, in this case you can attend Prenatal Breastfeeding class and get equipped to welcome a new teeny one into your life. Why Breastfeeding information is important?
In earlier times, when every mother breastfed and generations of the same family lived close to each other, new parents would have plenty of support. Mothers would mostly likely have seen countless babies being breastfed before having their own, and could turn to their own mother, grandmother, aunt or other member of their community for breastfeeding help. Unfortunately, today many communities have lost that inbuilt support.
The truth is that everyone struggles in the early days. Maybe in different ways. Some may have issues with getting a deep latch. Some may struggle with the intensity of their baby’s needs. Some may struggle with a sick baby, birth complications or a baby who isn’t latching at all. Others may struggle with family pressures to allow others to feed. Everyone has their own struggles as the entire family dynamic shifts underneath you while you begin the steep learning curve of breastfeeding and parenting.
Peer support is a wonderful and absolutely vital thing, but if you are struggling, you also need more. You need someone who can recognise what is causing you to struggle and how to move you forward. You need someone who will listen to your concerns and will not minimise your struggles, but rather will support you emotionally as well as working on the breastfeeding issue.
A Lactation professional generally costs a small fraction of the cost of formula, bottles and teats in the first year and can often help to completely turn things around for you. If you are struggling, reach out. You deserve to enjoy this experience with your baby. But remember prevention is better than cure start learning about Breastfeeding when you’re pregnant, that’s the best thing you can gift yourself with.