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Expert Q&A
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| By Ann Calandro BSN, RNC, IBCLC Lactation Consultant | ||
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Should I go ahead and buy a manual pump while I'm still pregnant to help with possible problems (engorgement, flat nipples, breast milk bottle supplementation) once the baby comes home? I want to avoid using formula at all costs.
Planning ahead for breastfeeding is important, and I am glad you are thinking ahead. The best way to prepare for breastfeeding is to read good books like The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Pure and Simple or The Nursing Mother's Companion.
Going to childbirth class to learn techniques for avoiding medications in childbirth is also very helpful. An alert baby has the greatest chance of a good start in breastfeeding. Attending some La Leche League meetings or your hospital's breastfeeding class is also a great idea. Let your hospital and your pediatrician know that you do not wish your baby to have any bottles, formula or pacifiers. You can put a card in the baby's hospital bassinet stating this.
Many mothers do not need a manual breast pump to avoid problems. They avoid problems by preparing ahead. If you do choose to have a breast pump available just in case, talk to some other moms about the types of pumps that truly work. There are many pumps on the market that do not work well, and are a waste of money. Some of the good ones are in the LLL online catalogue.
Engorgement is preventable if the baby is alert and nurses frequently. The flat nipples that come along with engorgement can also be avoided. If the nipples are a bit puffy due to IV Pitocin in labor, simply push in on the areola, displacing the fluid and continue to nurse.
It sounds like you are going to do great with breastfeeding. The more you know and understand, the better experience you will have!
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- My breasts are so large now, I am worried I will smother my baby if I try to breastfeed. Also, will my breasts return to their former size?
- Is it necessary to give multi-vitamin supplements to a breastfed baby? Doesn't Mother's milk provide all the nutrients a baby needs?
- Are there any laws in effect that hinder women from breastfeeding in public?
- What are an employer's legal responsibilities and duties for breastfeeding and/or pumping at work?
- I am pregnant, and my nipples are like a faucet, particularly when I'm sleeping. Is this normal?