A common sense approach to breastfeeding

Breast may be best, but breastfeeding does not always come naturally, especially for new, first time moms.  So here are a few resources to help you, so you can enjoy this sweet, inexplicably joyous part of parenting without letting it overwhelm you.

Get perspective

The evidence of the benefits of breastfeeding is inconclusive.  So essentially, it’s not the end of the world if you ultimately cannot or do not want to breastfeed.

Give it time

If you are certain you want to breastfeed, but are finding the difficulties overwhelming, take heart!  Difficulties for both mom and baby are greatest in the beginning.  If you get help, you should be able to overcome them within the first month after birth, if not earlier.  

Get help from a lactation consultant

Hospitals in West LA, such as The Birth Place at UCLA Santa Monica, St. John’s  Health Center and Ceders Sinai Medical Center have lactation consultants who can help in the first few days after birth. 

 The well known La Leche League International, has leaders who conduct meetings on a weekly basis in West LA and other areas for women who need help with breastfeeding.  

The Pump Station (in Santa Monica and Downtown LA) also provides individual consultation and weekly breastfeeding support groups. 

There are many other breastfeeding support providers and breastfeeding supply and support shops in Los Angeles which can also be of assistance to you.  Get a referral from your pediatrician to one of them; your health insurance may cover all or part of the cost.

Take quick action, especially if you are not seeing desired results

If you are following a recommendation and you do not see the desired result in a day or sooner, ask questions or seek help elsewhere.  Theories abound.  There are a lot of products to help a variety of problems.  But not all of them may work for you.  Be assertive.  Quick action is necessary initially so that you do not lose the opportunity to establish your milk supply.  I went through three consultants in two days before I finally found one who helped me.

Give yourself a break:  bottle feed occasionally

At times when you are too exhausted to breastfeed, supplement with formula or expressed milk.  Bottle feeding generally goes faster than breastfeeding.  So even if you have to do it yourself, you will get a bit of a break. 

The bottom line should simply be whether your baby is eating enough to grow.  Whether its breast milk or formula is beside the point.

 For more info:

On how to deal with breastfeeding challenges:
http://www.babycenter.com/breastfeeding-basics
http://www.llli.org/resources/assistance.html?m=0,0
http://www.pumpstation.com/pumpstation/dept.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=3225
http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/for-expectant-mothers/tips-and-solutions
http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/DirData2009.htm
http://www.parents.com/baby/breastfeeding/?ordersrc=yahoo4breastfeeding_cgy&cobrandId=ww5&s_kwcid=TC-3018-65043219522-S-35740624522

On collecting and storing breast milk: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/tips-and-solutions/11/breastmilk-collection-and-storage

For an alternate view on the benefits of breastfeeding: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200904/case-against-breastfeeding

On breastfeeding products and devices: http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/products