Deciding to breastfeed
Thinking about how you want to feed your baby is just as important as preparing for your baby’s birth and arrival. To help decide, many families want more information about breastfeeding, how to initiate it, and the potential challenges involved. The following pages provide useful information to help you with your decision.
Reasons for breastfeeding vary. Some people breastfeed because they like always having milk ready for their baby. Others see it as a way of strengthening the bond they developed with their baby during pregnancy. Still others decide to breastfeed because of the health benefits for the baby and the person who is breastfeeding. Trust yourself— you know best what your baby needs.
Knowing the reasons why you want to breastfeed before your baby is born can help you throughout your breastfeeding experience.
Ask yourself what’s important for you and your family in light of your values and your situation. And take some time to think about your intentions and how you can prepare yourself for the challenges you may face on the way.
It is possible to breastfeed a baby without having given birth. There are several protocols for starting milk production if you haven’t been pregnant. If you are interested, talk to your doctors or health professionals, ideally several months before your baby arrives, as some protocols may take a long time to complete.
Breastfeeding and health
Health professionals worldwide recommend that babies be fed breast milk exclusively for the first six months of life. The Canadian Paediatric Society, Dieticians of Canada, and Health Canada all echo this recommendation. Once babies have started eating solid foods, it is recommended that they continue breastfeeding until the age of two years or more.
Human milk contains antibodies and other substances that help baby’s immune system fight off certain diseases. The more of this milk a baby gets, the more protection they have—protection that may even continue after breastfeeding stops.
Breastfed babies are at lower risk of diseases, such as diarrhea, ear infections, colds, and bronchiolitis. And when breastfed babies do get these illnesses, they are less severe. Breastfed babies are also at lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome and are better protected against certain chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes.
Breastfeeding delays the return of menstrual periods and reduces the short-term risk of developing anemia. It also reduces the long-term risk of becoming diabetic or developing breast and ovarian cancer.
Most medications, including hormones, are compatible with breastfeeding. If you are taking medication, talk to your prenatal care team and the health professionals who will be monitoring your baby after delivery.
When you are sick, breastfeeding is still recommended. However, if you have a fever, cough, sore throat, or nasal congestion, it’s important to take certain precautions. While symptoms last, it’s best to wear a medical mask while breastfeeding. It’s always important to wash your hands before feeding your child.
A learned skill
The start of breastfeeding also marks the start of your life with your new baby. Preparing for breastfeeding and the first few days with your baby can help you deal with the surprises and moments of discouragement you may face along the way.
Learning to breastfeed takes practice, both for you and your baby. Before baby arrives, you learn the theory. Then you put the theory into practice, and you realize it isn’t always as easy as you thought.
It can be useful and comforting to have made initial contact with breastfeeding resources in advance in case you experience problems.
Little by little, with each passing day and each feeding, you will both become more skilled. Eventually it all starts to come naturally, and everything feels easy! That’s when it becomes enjoyable.
It can take four to six weeks to feel comfortable breastfeeding. In some cases it may take less time, and in others it may take longer. During this learning period, you and your partner will develop your own ways of working as a team.
It’s normal to need information, support and encouragement if you have questions or problems. Don’t hesitate to seek help from people you can rely on in your circle of family and friends or from breastfeeding resources (see The importance of a support network).
Common concerns and possible problems
Some people think that breastfeeding is meant to come naturally and easily, and may feel flustered if they have problems. Don’t worry, most breastfeeding issues are temporary, and solutions are available.
While it’s perfectly natural to have concerns about breastfeeding, it’s important to know that most of these concerns are based on common misconceptions or myths. Common fears include being incapable of breastfeeding, not having enough milk, having sore nipples, not being able to eat everything they want, not giving the partner or loved ones the opportunity to help with the feeding, and having the breasts deformed from breastfeeding. If you have concerns, talk them over with a trained breastfeeding support person.
The first few weeks of breastfeeding can be challenging nonetheless. Possible issues include engorgement, nipple pain or injury, frequent feedings (see Cluster feeding), difficulty positioning the baby at the breast, worries about milk production, and a crying baby. Most of these issues are temporary, and solutions exist (see Common difficulties).
If you want to prepare yourself for breastfeeding or you have concerns, feel free to talk to a trained breastfeeding support person. You can contact a breastfeeding mentor or a professional at your local CLSC. That way, you’ll be better prepared to overcome any challenges you may face.