One of the healthiest and most natural choices you can make for your newborn baby is breastfeeding. Throughout your pregnancy, your body is preparing itself to feed your baby. This is true whether you actively participate or not. If you want to get a good start on providing the healthiest diet for your baby, though, there are things you can do during your pregnancy to help prepare for an exceptional breastfeeding experience.
Learn, Learn, Learn
Breastfeeding practices wax and wane. In certain decades, you wouldn't have had to make any effort to learn about nursing your baby because everyone around you would be doing it. Your mother would have known the answers to your questions and you'd probably have grown up seeing babies nursing on a regular basis. We're a couple of generations removed from a time when breastfeeding was done openly - at least around other women - and many young women have never even seen a baby being breastfed.
One of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby is to learn as much as you can about breastfeeding before your baby is born. There are many books you can read about the subject. Many clinics, hospitals and health care centers offer breastfeeding classes to give you information about how to establish a good breastfeeding relationship with your baby.
Your a Support System
If there's a La Leche League group meeting near you, attend a few meetings during your pregnancy to meet other women who believe breastfeeding is preferred over bottle feeding. It's a chance to establish relationships with women who are experienced in nursing their babies and build a support and knowledge group you can call upon if you have difficulties. You'll also get more comfortable with the idea of nursing, which will make it easier for you to breastfeed when it's time.
Ignore Bad Advice
There are a couple of pieces of well-meant but incorrect advice often given to women who plan to breastfeed. First, you do not need to "toughen" your nipples. Your body will take care of that with pregnancy- and post-pregnancy hormonal changes. Don't rub or scrub your nipples to make them tougher - it will most likely backfire and leave you with tender, sore nipples that make it harder for you to nurse your baby. Second, don't keep a couple of cans of formula on hand "just in case." Having formula in the house will tempt you to use it when it seems your baby isn't getting enough breast milk. That's a self-defeating strategy - your body will increase its production of milk when the baby demands more by nursing more. If you let the baby fill up on formula, it will disturb the symbiotic balance between your baby's needs and your milk supply. The bottom line? Trust your body.
Go Shopping
There are a few accessories and wardrobe additions that will make breastfeeding comfortable, and you can pick them up during your pregnancy. Nursing bras are designed to allow you to nurse your baby without removing your bra, which can be a blessing when your baby wants to nurse while you're away from home. There are also blouses and dresses designed to allow discreet breastfeeding. You might also want to buy a breast pump if you'll be returning to work after the baby is born.
Your pregnancy is a good time to start learning about breastfeeding and get excited about the idea. The more you learn before your baby is born, the easier it will be to establish a good breastfeeding relationship with your newborn.
Author Resource:
Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the world's MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web.
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