Let's Breastfeed

In hospital with nobody to help…

Hospitals used to be a place new mothers found support and rest, these days though, many moms can’t wait to get out!

This is due to the number of babies being born every year with the staff stretched way beyond capacity and with the run up to Christmas and the New Year, hospitals are only going to get busier.

It is no wonder then that new moms, whether it be the first, second or third baby, struggle to find the breastfeeding help and support that they need. Breastfeeding support can’t be rushed or fitted into a quick 15minute slot, babies just don’t work that way.

Sometimes it can take moms a lot longer to articulate what they are feeling, to discuss what they feel the problem is having spent time with their baby trying to establish breast feeds.

So what can we do? Well, I believe that there is very little point playing the blame game, though I do appreciate one needs to address the downfall of the system that results in many moms giving up breastfeeding in the first 2 weeks.

We simply can’t blame the midwives for their lack of knowledge – it is not their field of expertise, though we can refuse to be bullied and man handled by them as this only causes damage.

You can prepare yourself better before having your baby, so that once the baby arrives, you know which practical steps need to be taken to ensure the best possible outcome for both you and your baby!

Many moms will tell me that they are doing a breastfeeding workshop with their local NCT branch which is fantastic for building confidence and highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding. But that is not enough to fully prepare you!

I believe you need to know:
1. how to hold your baby
2. how to help your baby open his or her mouth
3. how to tell when your baby is swallowing – the muscles down the side of baby’s face move regardless of whether your baby is swallowing!
4. What to do if your baby is not able to latch
5. how to hand express to get the tiny drops of colostrum and how to give this to your baby so that he/she does not end up back in hospital on a re-hydration drip

If you don’t know how to do these 5 things, you are setting yourself up for heart ache. Midwives simply don’t have the time to do your preparation for you!

Going into the Christmas period, the hospitals are getting busier and busier. If you are expecting a baby, get hold of my Let’s Breastfeed Program and get prepared as you may well find yourself in hospital with nobody to help!

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