The Natural Choice

Breastfeeding for healthy beginnings

Is it true that some women don't produce enough milk for their babies? Is it normal for breastfeeding to hurt? Does nursing keep dad from bonding with the baby? "No," "no" and "no," say lactation consultants at Baylor Women's Center at Baylor Medical Center at Garland. These are among the many myths associated with breastfeeding. Though it is a natural process, breastfeeding doesn't always go smoothly right from the start, and a new mother's insecurities play into these myths. "Breastfeeding is a learned experience for both mother and baby," says Sherry Therwhanger, certified lactation consultant at Baylor Garland.

Patience and practice
The trick is to get the baby to the breast as soon after delivery as possible. "After birth there's a window of a few hours when, if the baby is allowed to latch on and suckle to its heart's content, the act of breastfeeding is imprinted," Therwhanger says.

Difficulty arises when this doesn't happen-maybe the mother isn't well after delivery, or the baby needs to be whisked away for medical treatment. If the baby is given a bottle, it learns to suckle a different way. Later, it must change that behavior in order to breast feed.

Proper latch-on and good alignment are crucial. That's why lactation consultants at Baylor Garland are available to new moms shortly after delivery. "We teach mom to learn her baby's hunger cues, and we check for good latch-on and positioning," Therwhanger says. Quite often, all it takes is a few minutes of instruction to resolve any difficulty.

"I agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics that breastfeeding is the most efficient and natural way of supplying nutrients and immunity to your baby," says Robert A. Kotas, M.D., a pediatrician on the medical staff at Baylor Garland, who recommends breastfeeding for at least one year.

More myths
Mother's first milk, called colostrum, is very important because it transfers nutrients and antibodies to the infant. It also prepares the baby's system to digest the full milk that the mother begins making a few days after birth.

According to Therwhanger, some cultures believe that this first milk is not good for the baby. With education, this myth can be overcome.

Another myth is that fathers are left out in the cold. "From the beginning, I put dad right up at mom's shoulder during breastfeeding," Therwhanger says. "He can make sure the baby is in the correct breastfeeding position and bond with the baby and the mother together." Later, after mom begins pumping and storing milk, dad can step in to help with bottle feeding.

It's ok to ask for help
Expectant mothers should discuss their breastfeeding doubts with their pediatrician or OB/GYN's support staff. New moms leaving Baylor Garland take home a list of community resources and a breastfeeding log to help them maintain their breastfeeding schedule. They return for free weight checks to ensure the baby is feeding properly and gaining weight.

"Some women think the baby isn't getting enough milk," Dr. Kotas says. "Breastfeeding is about supply and demand; a woman's body will produce enough milk as long as the baby continues to demand it.

"Remember: If things don't go perfectly at first, don't be discouraged. Breastfeeding may take some effort, but the benefits are well worth it.

By Deborah Paddison