Is there a proper way to breast feed?

I am writing for a friend who is pregnant and due any day. She is interested in breastfeeding and wants to know if there is an organization she can call to teach her the proper way to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding offers tremendous benefits to mother and baby. Being skin to skin promotes bonding while providing proper nutrition as well as advantages for the immune system. It's convenient, inexpensive and an excellent way to help get back to pre-pregnancy weight!

As for learning the proper way to breastfeed, there is no one perfect way. The best way is usually the way that works best for mom and baby, and this often involves a period of trial and error. While it's the most natural thing in the world for many moms and babies, other pairs need more on-the-job training. It's important to stick with it during the first few weeks, which are always tough. It takes about a month to establish a feeding rhythm and that's when it gets easy.

Have your friend contact La Leche League International, Inc. (9616 Minneapolis Ave., Franklin Park, IL 60131). They offer support and guidance for breastfeeding women. Many childbirth education programs offer classes in breastfeeding. And most new moms receive helpful advice and instruction from the nurses at the maternity ward at the hospital.

Breastfeeding should be encouraged, but it is a matter of personal choice and it's not the right choice for every woman. Some women have medical conditions that prevent nursing, or are taking medications that would be harmful if passed through the breast milk to the baby. Other women try nursing and find that it's just not right for them. Whatever you decide, remember it's your body, and do what's right for you!

Labels: Breastfeeding, Pregnancy health