As an expectant mother, you think about pretty much many things and prepare extensively:
- Find a midwife
- childbirth preparation course
- Hypnobirthing
- Baby essentials
I could add a few more things.
But where does breastfeeding fit in?
Of course, breastfeeding is the natural way to feed a baby. Unfortunately, for us mothers, breastfeeding isn't intuition, but a learned skill. In today's society with few breastfeeding role models, learning by imitation is extremely difficult.
Fortunately, our babies have innate reflexes and can breastfeed quite intuitively. The important thing is that we give them the opportunity to do so.
But that's not so easy when so many new impressions and pieces of advice bombard you after an overwhelming birth. Many different nurses and midwives look after you in the first few days, and unfortunately, almost every one of them has different advice, leaving you, as a new first- or second-time mother, completely unsure of what's right or wrong.
But it doesn't have to be that way, because there's also the option of preparing for breastfeeding during pregnancy. For example, through individual and personal breastfeeding counseling, which can be helpful in difficult situations, such as when expecting a baby with a cleft lip and palate or Down syndrome. Another great alternative is a breastfeeding preparation course. Many might now be thinking: But I have a midwife who will support me after the birth, or I attended a childbirth preparation course where breastfeeding was also covered.
Yes, a midwife can be a good support, but a specialist, such as a certified lactation consultant, simply has significantly more extensive, evidence-based expert knowledge.
In a breastfeeding preparation course, breastfeeding is addressed explicitly and exclusively, and to a much greater extent than, for example, in a childbirth preparation course.
These important topics should definitely be included:
- Anatomy and physiology of the breast
- The physiology of breastfeeding
- Milk production phase and composition of breast milk
- Breastfeeding behavior of babies
- The correct application
- Breastfeeding positions
- Signs of milk transfer
- Bonding
- Breastfeeding management
- Oxytocin massage and manual colostrum emptying
- Milk let-down
- Weight gain and loss
- Supplemental feeding - breastfeeding-friendly
- Effects of pacifiers, nipple shields, bottle feeding
- Prevention and treatment of sore nipples, milk stasis and mastitis
- Measures to take in case of too little/too much milk
- Old wives' tales
Many health insurance companies even cover the costs or subsidize a course. Therefore, it definitely makes sense to get well-informed and prepared for breastfeeding preparation during pregnancy.