Planning to breastfeed? Here's how to prepare.

Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn’t mean it comes without questions or challenges. Preparing for breastfeeding before your baby arrives can make a world of difference.

Melinda Olmstead, BSN, RN, IBCLC, LCCE is a parent instructor and lactation consultant at ProMedica Toledo and Flower Hospitals. Here are her tips for how to prepare for successful breastfeeding.

Take a breastfeeding class before baby arrives.

“Although we say it’s a natural process, it’s really like nothing we’ve ever done before, so taking a class is huge,” says Olmstead. Many insurance companies will reimburse for these classes, so check with your insurance provider to see if that’s an option. Often, you can find breastfeeding information through your obstetrician or midwife, and classes at hospitals, including Toledo and Flower Hospitals.

Know that you’ll be tired after delivery.

This may sound obvious, but planning for this ahead of time can be very helpful. “You’ve brought this new life into the world and now you’re taking care of this new, little human being, as well as yourself. You’re just exhausted and now you have to feed this baby,” Olmstead explains. “That’s why preparation ahead of time is key. It’s hard to take in all that new information when you’re exhausted and you just had a baby.”

Meet with a lactation consultant.

Lactation consultants are invaluable after delivery and are also available prior to delivery when needed. “We do offer one-on-one visits with one of our international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) providers or a registered nurse (RN) IBCLC, even before delivery,” assures Olmstead. “So if someone feels like they really need a little extra one-on-one going into this, we can even schedule a visit ahead of time before delivery.” ProMedica Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine – Perrysburg at Levis Commons offers breastfeeding support throughout the journey, including before baby arrives.

Watch educational videos.

Educational videos about breastfeeding can be incredibly helpful. Olmstead recommends videos by Dr. Jane Morton at firstdroplets.com, as well as Global Health Media’s website. These videos can give you detailed information about hand expression or baby swallows, so you know what to see and expect. 

Consider your breastfeeding goal.

Every family is different and has different needs. Sometimes, individuals want to breastfeed just until they go back to work; some want to breastfeed for two years. Some parents want to exclusively pump their breast milk; others want to do a mix of breastfeeding and bottle feeding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months, as well as continued breastfeeding, along with solids, for up to two years or beyond. But individual goals matter. “People usually have on their heart an idea of their breastfeeding goal when asked,” says Olmstead. “We work with them to achieve that goal.”

Consider which pump to use.

Not all pumps are created equal. Check with your insurance provider to see if they will cover a breast pump and get a high-quality breast pump that’s going to help you along the journey. “You can even talk to a lactation consultant about what kind of pump to get,” Olmstead advises.

Familiarize yourself with hand expression.

Hand expression can be extremely useful for a variety of reasons – expressing breast milk when a pump isn’t available, increasing milk supply and feeding your baby if they’re unable to latch. “We use it a lot in the hospital,” says Olmstead. “We have Mom hand express onto a spoon if the baby doesn’t latch. It energizes the baby and keeps their energy up while they’re trying to figure breastfeeding out.”

Know your options if your baby needs NICU care.

If your baby is in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), work with a lactation consultant quickly to start pumping.

“Breast milk is even more valuable for those babies that are sick. It’s loaded with nutrients for those babies to help them grow and get stronger,” says Olmstead. “We get Mom pumping early and often to help set up a good milk supply, and that gives us lots of options with breastfeeding down the road.”

When your baby is out of the NICU, you can work with a lactation consultant to help your baby latch.

Consider how you’ll navigate latch challenges.

“Babies are wired to breastfeed, but sometimes there are latch challenges. I want people to know that it’s not supposed to hurt. If it does, seek out help right away,” says Olmstead. Sometimes it’s tempting to leave the baby on, even if it hurts, but catching and adjusting it early will help set you and your baby up for success. Lactation consultants at Toledo and Flower Hospitals are available every day, along with the nurse, to help.

Have reasonable expectations when it comes to pumping.

If you pump soon after delivery, know that you may not see any milk, or you may just see a few drops of milk with the first several pumpings. Remember that you’re really just telling your body to make the milk and setting it up since the baby can’t do that right now. It can be discouraging to not see any milk expressed for several pumpings, but know that with each pumping, you’re building up the milk supply your baby needs.

Get your resources ready.

Once your baby arrives, it can be tempting to seek help on social media when you need support. But social media is full of misinformation. Knowing your resources early can help arm you when you hit bumps in the road. Here are a few websites to consider:

• Healthychildren.org: A website from the American Academy of Pediatrics.
• FirstDroplets.com: Has information for term babies and very early babies.
• CDC.gov: Information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Bfmed.org: Information from the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.
• InfantRisk.com: Guidance about medication interactions with breastfeeding.
• TrashthePumpandDump.org: Information about medical conditions, medications and substances of concern during lactation.

Remember, you’ve got this!

“You can do this,” assures Olmstead. “If there’s a bump in the road, hang in there, feed your baby and protect your milk. If you struggle, remember that it’s just a tiny window in your life and you’ll be really glad you did it. If there are challenges, there’s help out there.”