Breastfeeding is not easy! Ask any breastfeeding mom. It is an extremely demanding activity that has a woman losing sleep to feed her baby on demand. The amount of time staying in one position with baby cradled in the nook of one’s arm often results in muscle cramps and stiff necks.
A new mother will also find that her nipples are sore and bleeding during the early stages of breastfeeding.
There’s mastitis, juggling work and nursing the baby, and tender breasts from clogged milk ducts, to name a few.
There are so many reasons why the breastfeeding journey truly is a daunting challenge.
It is therefore crucial for a breastfeeding mother to surround herself with people, family and friends, who will support her through her breastfeeding experience.
Even more important is finding a doctor who will not just encourage the mother to breastfeed, but will also provide adequate answers when breastfeeding problems arise.
It’s a good idea to shop around for a good doctor even before your due date because having a breastfeeding friendly doctor can make a world of difference in your breastfeeding adventure.
Don’t be afraid to ask prospective doctors some key questions in determining the extent of their knowledge and support of breastfeeding.
On the next page, find out what questions you can ask your doctors
Here are some questions you can ask:
What is your procedure for the treatment of jaundice?
Jaundice occurs when there is too much bilirubin , a yellow pigment that results from the breakdown of red blood cells, in the body.
Jaundiced babies are yellowish or have an orange tint in their eyes and skin. Some doctors will advise mothers to stop breastfeeding altogether or to augment breast milk with water and glucose.
The World Health Organization (WHO), however, frowns upon this practice because it can cause breastfeeding problems and has not been proven to actually lower bilirubin levels in the body.
When should solid foods be introduced into a baby’s diet?
The WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and that it should be continued for as long as mutually desired by the mother and child. Solid foods, as recommended by WHO, should not be introduced to babies younger than 6 months.
What are your thoughts on the slow weight gain of breastfed babies?
It is quite common for breastfed babies to weigh less and be smaller than their formula-fed counterparts. All babies, whether breastfed or formula fed, tend to lose almost a pound of their body weight during the first few weeks of life. In addition, breastfed babies tend to gain weight slowly at around 2-3 months.
More important questions on the next page
What training on breastfeeding have you received?
A well-rounded background on breastfeeding will ensure that your doctor will be able to handle tough questions and make the right decisions for you and your baby.
What is your protocol when a breastfeeding mother is under medication?
Some doctors may recommend partial or complete weaning of babies when their mothers are taking medicines. The fact is, hardly any medicines pass into a mother’s milk in quantities that are enough to affect your baby.
If you are uncertain about taking medication while nursing, ask your doctor for an alternative medicine first before you even consider weaning.
Breastfeeding support groups
Getting in touch with breastfeeding support groups is also a good way to ensure your breastfeeding journey goes as smoothly as possible. They can also refer you to doctors who advocate breastfeeding.
Some such groups are: The Breastfeeding Clinic; Arugaan Day Care; Lactation Attachment Training Counseling Help (LATCH); La Leche League Philippines; The Breastfeeding Club; Beauty, Brains, and Breastfeeding; Mommy Sense; Moms, Milk, and More (MOMIMOR); Medela Moms Inc.; and Bosom Buddy.
READ: Is it OK to smoke cannabis while breastfeeding?
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