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Home › Articles › Breastfeeding Advocacy › Ways to Promote Breastfeeding

Ways to Promote Breastfeeding

6 Simple and Subtle Ways to Promote Breastfeeding

By Norah Piehl

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You've been breastfeeding your baby for a while now. You're starting to feel like an old pro who can balance your nursing baby in one hand and your favorite novel in the other. Those early days and weeks of breastfeeding discomfort and uncertainty are just a distant memory – kind of like labor pain – and you and your thriving baby are both delighting in your breastfeeding relationship.

If you've reached this point, you're probably feeling great about breastfeeding, and you may want to help other new moms achieve the same level of breastfeeding success and satisfaction. But how? Sure, you could stage a "nurse-out," boycott companies that promote formula and lobby for pro-breastfeeding legislation. You could even train to become a breastfeeding counselor or lactation consultant.

But what if your interest in promoting breastfeeding is less political and more personal? Even if you're not ready to call yourself a "lactivist," there are plenty of simple ways you can help other new moms and babies get off to a great start with nursing.

1. Give the Gift of Great Beginnings.
A nursing "care package" can be a fantastic baby shower or new baby gift. Fill a basket with supplies to make a nursing mom's life a little easier.

Lanolin cream, gel packs and nursing pads can help make those early days a lot more comfortable. Add a couple of books: one about breastfeeding – The Nursing Mother's Companion (Harvard Common Press, 2005) or So That's What They're For: Breastfeeding Basics (Adams Media Corp., 1998) – and one paperback novel just for fun. Pack some energy bars, trail mix or other nutritious snacks, and include a CD of relaxing music that Mom and Baby can both enjoy. A nursing mom is always thirsty, so don't forget to add a big water bottle that she can keep by her rocking chair. Slip in a note with the phone number of her local La Leche League leader; she's sure to have lots of questions when she's starting out. For a high-impact gift, package all these items with a nursing pillow, some cellophane wrap and a big bow.


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