quick clicks

babies today articles

babies today q&a

toddlers today articles

toddlers today q&a

breastfeed.com articles

breastfeed.com q&a

community & groups

research baby names

prepare a birth plan

content channels

ip channel rss feeds

read birth stories

read parenting stories

recommended books

e-newsletters

safety recalls

ip diaries

ip store

mom of the month

dad of the month

editor's letter

letters to the editor

Your Breastfeeding Roadmap

Plotting a Course for Success

By Ann Calandro, RNC, IBCLC

It is important to find a breastfeeding-friendly pediatrician. I doubt you will find a single one who doesn't believe in breastfeeding, but many only "talk the talk" and don't "walk the walk." Many are quick to fix any problem with formula. It is an easy fix. Many pediatricians know very little about helping you manage breastfeeding. Their mantra is, "Don't make Mom feel guilty." This is a paternalistic attitude and it just stinks. Just how guilty will Mom feel if she realizes later that fixing her breastfeeding problem may have prevented her baby countless ear infections or lifelong allergies?

So how do you choose a breast-friendly pediatrician? Ask successful breastfeeding mothers. Attend the above-mentioned LLL meetings and ask for recommendations. The yellow pages are not your friend. Let your legs do the walking, not your fingers. Get yourself to that meeting. If there are no meetings in your area, ask a breastfeeding friend or friend of a friend for a recommendation. Sometimes you have little choice in your provider, and the insurance companies or health department will choose for you. In this case, it is more important than ever to be ready to protect and defend breastfeeding for you and your baby.

After your baby is born, breastfeed as soon as your baby shows signs of hunger, such as chewing his hands. Do not let hospital staff take him away for any reason if both of you are doing well. Wearing only a diaper and a cap, your baby should slide right in the front of your hospital gown and stay skin to skin with you until your first breastfeeding. After the first breastfeeding, it is Dad's turn to do the skin-to-skin thing. No rush on a bath. No rush on anything except this first hour or two of bonding time.

Want to see more?

• Straight Talk About Real Babies: Defining New-Mom Expectations
• Holding On: Basic Breastfeeding Positions
• Check out our Article Library.
• Talk about it!

Post As:
Enter your comment below:
Title
Comment Text
CAPTCHA
Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection.