This week is World Breastfeeding Week and the theme this year is “Protect Breastfeeding: A Shared Responsibility.” The theme aims to encourage positive changes in public health policies, health systems, the workplace, and at the community level. You can read more about the challenges here. In line with this year’s theme, we’re presenting some simple ways you can help protect breastfeeding/chestfeeding/bodyfeeding for you and your baby. While many of the existing challenges come from systems outside of your control, there are things you can do to help ensure breastfeeding is successful.
Take a breastfeeding class. Learning the ins and outs of breastfeeding, including how to deal with the many potential challenges outside of your control is one of the best, first, and easiest ways to protect your breast/chest/body feeding relationship.
Encourage your partner/family members to take a class, too. Support from those closest to you is key to successful human milk feeding for your baby. Encourage and help those who will be supporting you to learn as much as possible about breastfeeding.
Watch breastfeeding videos early and often. YouTube is full of videos on breastfeeding, including how to breastfeed in public, how to establish a good latch, how to pump at work, and much more. The more you steep yourself in these visual resources, the more prepared and confident you will feel.
Limit visitors in the early days/weeks. Or, at the very least, get comfortable with excusing yourself and your baby when visitors visit. Learning how to feed your baby with your body is easiest when baby is undressed and you are undressed from the waist up. Most people feel most comfortable doing this in private, or only around their partner.
Find out early about pumping at work. If you have to go back in person to your job, find out early about how, when, where you can pump in the workplace. Talk to your HR department for details.
Join a local parents’ group and/or breastfeeding group. A local group can help you locate almost any and all resources you’ll possibly need while breast/chest feeding, including supplies, lactation consultant information, tips, workplace advice, and more.
