Finding Breastfeeding Support and Resources
For some women and their babies,
breastfeeding comes very easily. For others, it’s a harder thing to learn. If
you’re having difficulties, look for support. The sooner, the better. Most
breastfeeding problems can be easily overcome with the right support early on.
Your doctor or your baby’s doctor are
the best sources for information specific to you and your baby. Here are
several other resources for additional information.
La Leche
League
La Leche League is a non-profit
volunteer organization that provides encouragement, assistance, and educational
materials to breastfeeding women. To locate a local group, check the calendar
of NW Baby newspaper, call 1-800-LaLeche or visit www.LaLecheLeague.org
You can even visit a La Leche League
meeting before your baby is born. This gives you an opportunity to be around
nursing women so you can see how they hold their babies, and how they integrate
breastfeeding into their lives.
Lactation
Consultants
Lactation consultants are
breastfeeding professionals. Look for one that is an IBCLC (Internationally
Board Certified Lactation Consultant.)
For referrals, call the Parent
Information line, go to the Breastfeeding Resource Guide, ask your childbirth
educator, doctor, or nurse, or contact your local La Leche League group for a
referral.
King
County Breastfeeding Resource Guide
See www.breast-friends.org for a huge
collection of local resources.
There are also several great websites
about breastfeeding. Search the web for those.
Books
Eiger, Marvin, and Olds, Sally. The
Complete Book of Breastfeeding.
Huggins, Kathleen. The Nursing
Mother’s Companion.
La Leche League. The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding.
Pryor, Gale. Nursing Mother, Working
Mother and Nursing your Baby.
Information
for Employers on Supporting Breastfeeding
www.gotmom.org/employers/supporting.htm
Getting
through the Early Weeks
The first few days and weeks of
breastfeeding are the most challenging. Breastfeeding will become much
easier once you and your baby have had a few weeks to focus on learning how.
Plan ahead for support for the early
weeks at home. Have friends, family members, or a postpartum doula help you
with meals and household tasks so you can focus on caring for your baby and
yourself. If those early nursings seem really difficult, seek out help before
you give up.
Compiled by Janelle Durham, 2004.
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