Getting Started

Congratulations on making the decision to breastfeed! Now is a good time to start learning more about breastfeeding, rather than waiting until you have a newborn in your lap and you havent a clue what to do next. I would suggest doing some reading NOW. You also might want to contact La Leche League for some one-on-one education, encouragement and support. Hearing about the experiences of others will also give you some insight into what to expect. I'd also suggest checking with your hospital or birthing center and see if they offer the services of a Lactation Consultant, ask how soon after delivery you will be able to nurse, whether or not the baby can "room in", etc. No matter how prepared you are, being tossed into the role of mother within a matter of hours can often time cause anything that you have learned in the nine months prior to promptly go flying out the window, so you can use all the support you can find.


Old Wives Tales

I can almost guarantee that someone or their grandmother will advise you to toughen up your nipples. Smile and nod, thank them kindly for their advice and walk on by! It will most likley only serves to make your nipples too sore to be able to nurse comfortably when the time comes. The same goes with expressing colostrum. Not only is there not proven benefit, expressing clostrum during pregnancy might stimulate uterine contractions and could possibly result in preterm labor... this is not a good thing. Something you definitely DO want to do is to make sure that your nipples point outward, and are not flat or inverted. You midwife or obstetrician will be able to assess whether or not your nipples will need any correction. If this is the case, breast shells worn in your bra can train flat or inverted nipples outward. They can be purchased in most maternity stores.



What You Will Need

A good nursing bra is, in my humble opinion, and ABSOLUTE necessity - especially is you are well endowed. Go to every maternity shop you come across and try on every single type of nursing bra they have (OK... that might be a wee bit on the extreme side) until you find one that is comfortable, supportive and easy to adjust. It's best to find your bras a couple weeks shy of your due date and limit your self to two until you have determined, after a couple of weeks of nursing, that they will work for you.

You're also going to want to invest in some breast pads. I would suggest going with the reusable cotton type rather than disposables. They don't breathe nearly as well (especially the ones with eh waterproof plastic liners) and can contribute to nipple soreness. If you are planning on pumping, I'd recommend looking into a hospital quality electric pump (Modella makes a model that has been highly recommended to me). The manual pumps are great for occasional pumping, but not the best choice for expressing several bottles worth of milk. And don't forget the Lansinoh (or any 100% lanoline ointment) for those sore nipples!



Make Your Intentions Clear

Last but not least... be sure to indicate to your OB or midwife, and to specify in your birth plan that you plan to breastfeed. It is best not to introduce supplementary bottles of formula or glucos water, at least until you breastfeeding relationship with you infant is fully established, so consider this when creating your birth plan. Also, make sure to indicate how soon after delivery that you want to nurse. I recomed nursing within the first hour after birth. The sooner you establish a breastfeeding relationship, the better your chance of success.