Don't just try breastfeeding. Succeed. If you want to assure success with breastfeeding, be proactive and plan ahead. You and you alone are in charge of your success. Don't wait for someone else to make it happen. Be a participant, not an observer. Why? Because there are many seemingly innocent interventions that you can "choose not to choose" that are often the root of breastfeeding problems. Some of these may surprise you.

I'm not going to pussyfoot around and be nice. I have talked to too many mothers lately who have had really difficult problems, many of which probably could have been avoided. Instead, I am going to share a simple roadmap to breastfeeding success. Are you ready?

During your pregnancy, read, read and read about breastfeeding. Make an itinerary. Don't waste your time reading any material that has been published by a maker of infant formula. These booklets are carefully written and omit most of the important information you need to know.

Read books like The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (Plume, 1997), So That's What They're For (Adams Media Corporation, 1998) or Bestfeeding (Celestial Arts, 2000).

Content on this site is not a substitute for professional medical or healthcare advice, diagnosis or treatment, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical question or condition. Reliance on information presented on this site is at your own risk. This site contains the opinions and views of other users. Given the interactive nature of this site, we cannot endorse, guarantee, or be responsible for the accuracy, efficacy, or veracity of any content generated by our users.