Tots to Teens published an article by Breastmates in their
August/September 2011 issue.
Here's a copy of our article:
Do you need help breastfeeding?
By Frances McInnes
Breastfeeding is the optimal way to feed your baby - but the way
our maternity system is set up often doesn't provide new mums with
the support they need to be successful at it. Where can you go for
help with breastfeeding?
From the moment you find out you're pregnant, messages about the
importance of breastfeeding are everywhere you look - in pregnancy
books, antenatal classes, parenting magazines, even posters on your
midwife's clinic walls. But many women don't find breastfeeding to
be as easy as the smiling photographs tell them it should be. New
mums are usually released from hospital or the birthing centre
before their milk has even come in, and discharged from their
midwife's care between four and six weeks post-birth. Yet research
shows it can take around six weeks for breastfeeding to be
successfully established, and ongoing support afterward is crucial
to women choosing to continue breastfeeding. Where can you go if
you need help, no matter how old your baby is?
Your midwife or LMC. Your lead maternity carer
(LMC) or midwife is usually your first point of contact for
breastfeeding advice and help, especially in the early days. Ask
lots of questions to start, and if your midwife isn't available,
make a list of questions to ask later - or set up a special
appointment solely to talk about breastfeeding and what to expect,
and who your LMC recommends you ask for help if they're not
around.
Your GP or Plunket. Once you've been discharged
from your midwife at around four to six weeks post-birth, your
baby's care will revert to your GP or to Plunket. Often at this
time new mums feel at loose ends, as the focus shifts from both
mother and baby to primarily your baby's development. Make sure to
bring up any questions or concerns you have about your body's
healing and breastfeeding to these caregivers. As it's recommended
you breastfeed your baby for at least a year, exclusively for the
first six months, you need to have a trusted, knowledgeable,
supportive healthcare provider to turn to as your baby grows and
their breastfeeding need and habits change over time.
A lactation consultant. Hospitals and birthing
centres often have lactation consultants on staff, although their
availability can be an issue. Before giving birth, contact your
hospital or birthing centre and ask if they have a lactation
consultant available for new mothers and what her hours are. If you
give birth on Sunday and the LC doesn't come in until Thursday,
you'll miss out - so find out what support is available if the LC
isn't there. Lactation consultants sometimes hold classes at the
hospital or birthing centre, so find out if you can attend these
even if you're not an admitted patient, or if the LC is available
to new mums even after they've gone home. Private lactation
consultants may also be available for a fee, but check with your
own insurance company to see if they would cover a
consultation.
Classes. Antenatal classes will discuss some
aspects of breastfeeding, but it's often following the birth that
new mums have the most questions. Check with the hospital, Plunket,
or your local parenting organisation such as Parents Centre to
(www.parentscentre.org.nz) see if they offer breastfeeding classes
or info sessions you can attend with your baby.
A support group. Local parenting organisations
might also organise support groups for new mothers, which include
"expert" talks and information as well as socialisation and
in-person, mum-to-mum support. The La Leche League
(www.lalecheleague.org.nz) holds breastfeeding-focused support
groups in most New Zealand centres.
Online. When your baby is screaming and
refusing to feed at 3am, where can you turn? Online support groups
are a great option for mums who live rurally or who can't quite
make it out of the house (perhaps because they're not permitted to
drive following a C-section, or their baby is ill, or it's just
plain too hard to get organised for a trip somewhere in the car).
The New Zealand website Breastmates (www.breastmates.co.nz) offers
non-judgemental 24/7 support for mums with feeding issues, and
boasts an active Facebook community (www.facebook.com/breastmates)
of over 11,500 like-minded mums.