Four Hundred Ninety Hours is a Lot of Breastfeeding Hours!
written by Angela E. Swieter, RN, BSN, IBCLC, ICD, ICPE, ICPD
This article is copyrighted and is not to be reprinted without permission of the author.

Years ago women gave birth without much support. It was  considered “natural.” The labor and delivery nurse was her support.   Next, dad was allowed in the room. And after that came Childbirth Education Classes so parents could learn the choices they had in birthing and  how they could be an active part in the birth.  Recently, we have added the Certified Birth Doula, someone trained to assist in a birth so birth can go more  comfortably and efficiently. Today parents generally prepare for childbirth, choosing the type of classes they want to attend. They are now interviewing doulas and choose a doula that is a good fit for them. They are prepared to make  this journey as easy as possible …a journey that will likely last 8-24 hours.  Thankfully, we have come long way in helping families bask in the birth of their babies!!

Once the baby is born, parents take a breath of fresh air and assume the baby will breastfeed well since this is “natural.” In asummary  of the Third Breastfeeding Summit for the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine  (ABM) (July 2011), neonatologist, ABM board member and chair of the ABM Protocol Committee Kathleen Marinelli, MD, IBCLC, FABM states, “An astonishing piece of data given by  immediate past-president Dr. Caroline Chantry in her presentation ‘Supporting the 75%’ was that from a very average population she  studied, only 8% of women reported no problems with breastfeeding in the first  two weeks postpartum. Looked at in another way, a whopping 92% of women had at least one significantly self-reportable problem with lactation.” Breastfeeding,  like birth, is natural but obviously can have challenges as well.

 Birth can go easy and fast for some and longer and more difficult for others. We strongly encourage parents to prepare. They take classes and hire a doula. So why not do the same when it comes to feeding the baby?  Breastfeeding is an  activity they will be doing 8-12 times a day and will be the only type of  feeding the baby receives for the first 6 months (minimum).This calculates to  approximately 490 hours during the first 6 months. Feeding is the most time-consuming and important activity for the baby. The benefits for the baby, the mom, the family, and the community are colossal!  

Parents should be encouraged to interview IBCLCs prenatally to find an IBCLC that is a good fit for their family. They need to establish a relationship they can trust, finding someone with whom they are comfortable.  What a relief for them to personally know the IBCLC who will come into their home when they are sleep deprived and overwhelmed to give assistance in the most  important activity mom and baby will be doing for the next 6 months or longer.  They need to obtain education on breastfeeding from that IBCLC prenatally and design a plan before the baby is born, setting up follow up appointments for after the baby is born.

We have moved from utilizing the nurse on duty as labor support.  Dad is present, Childbirth Education classes are the norm and certified birth doulas have been added to make things even more comfortable and rewarding. So why not do the same when it comes to providing the baby with the best nutrients
available: mother’s milk? Interview IBCLCs in your area and find a good fit, get some education on best practice, make a breastfeeding plan and set up follow up visits to help with breastfeeding when the baby is born and during the following months. Babies need to be basking in the warmth of their mother’s skin and both need to enjoy a comfortable and rewarding breastfeeding experience.

Basking Babies offers this service ...Look under the Consultations tab and find the services offered in the Basking Babies Breastfeeding Bundle.
This article is copyrighted and is not to be reprinted without permission of the author.