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A Good Start for Breastfeeding

Simple Ways to Make Breastfeeding Work

By Keath Castelloe Low

The International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) is the professional organization for international board certified lactation consultants and other health care professionals who care for breastfeeding families. In addition to providing information about the role of lactation consultants in assisting new mothers, the ILCA Web site offers a worldwide "Find a Lactation Consultant Directory" at www.ilca.org. The directory is set up by zip code, state, city, country, etc. The site is user friendly and helpful.

Dr. Feldman-Winter recommends that before leaving the hospital, mothers schedule a follow-up visit with a lactation consultant or other health care professional who is knowledgeable about breastfeeding for an evaluation when their baby is between 3 to 5 days of age. "This first follow-up visit is to make sure that the baby is doing well, breastfeeding is going well and your milk has come in," she says. She also tells new mothers not to worry about the volume of milk in the first few days. "It doesn't take much volume to satisfy the needs of a newborn," she says. "Newborn babies just need many attempts at the breast, between 8 to 12 times per day is recommended, during which time they will be getting your colostrum, the early milk, rich in infection and disease-fighting substances."

Lauwers agrees that worrying about milk volume is often an issue for new mothers and that concerns about milk production may continue once Baby is a little older. "The most common worry new mothers have is whether they have enough milk for their baby," she says. Lauwers explains that as long as your baby is routinely breastfeeding (at least 8 times in a 24-hour period), his sucking rhythm is about one cycle per second to indicate that he is obtaining milk, you hear swallowing or gulping during the feedings and your breasts feel softer after the feedings, then you can feel confident that your baby is getting what he needs.

Want to see more?

• Inconvenient?: A Practical Guide to Breastfeeding
• Straight Talk About Real Babies: Defining New-mom Expectations
• Right on Cue: Can You Breastfeed on a Schedule?
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