Knock Down Hurdles to Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is one of the greatest health advantages you can give your infant. It’s the “gift that lasts a lifetime,” says Jane Morton, M.D., a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) committee on breastfeeding.
A breastfed baby may be less prone to ear infections and diarrhea. The child may also face less risk of developing diabetes, obesity, and asthma, the AAP says.
Ideally, you should breastfeed exclusively for the first six months, with a goal of continuing breast milk for at least the first year. But you may face obstacles.
“The biggest problem is early on,” says Dr. Morton. Right after the birth, mothers who plan to breastfeed may find they don’t have enough milk to do so. “Mothers don’t have full breasts during the first few days,” she explains. Even though that problem won’t last, they may give up.
Moms who want to keep breastfeeding when they go back to work may face barriers such as supervisors’ lack of support or rigid work hours, adds Jeanette Panchula, an international board certified lactation consultant in Fairfield, California.
Knowing the hurdles helps you find ways around them. Continue reading the tips by clicking this link. Then take the breastfeeding quiz here.
