[Breastfeeding] Preparation Essentials

Although about 80% percent of lactating parents start off nursing, by 3 months only about half of them are exclusively feeding human milk. So, what vital information should you know before baby arrives to increase your lactation success? Cindy Leclerc tells us more. Check it out!

What we talked about:

• Why it’s normal for nursing not to be easy at the beginning
• Having a visitor plan
• How skin-to-skin helps with milk supply and feeding
• Painful nipples should not be endured
• Basics of positioning and latch
• Your baby’s voracious second day of life!
• The nifty useful tool of hand expression… and when to use it

Links to studies mentioned by Cindy:

• Breastfeeding concerns at 3 and 7 days postpartum
• Interventions for treating painful nipples among breastfeeding women, Cochrane review
• Study on comparing immediate skin to skin contact to traditional practices at birth
• Skin to skin care improves milk supply
• In-Hospital Formula Use Increases Early Breastfeeding Cessation Among First-Time Mothers Intending to Exclusively Breastfeed

Links to blog posts by Cindy and Jana that provide more information:

• 6 Tips for Surviving the Newborn Period
• 7 Important Ways Dads can Help with Breastfeeding
• Should Partners give a Bottle to Bond with Baby?
• The Importance of Skin to Skin with Baby
• Photos of women in different breastfeeding positions
• How to Breastfeed: Getting a Deep Latch
• What to expect with breastfeeding in the first 5 days
• How to hand express breast milk
• Preparing to Breastfeed during Pregnancy

About Cindy Leclerc

Cindy Leclerc is a Registered Nurse and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant with over 20 years experience helping families get started with breastfeeding. Cindy and her colleague, Jana Stockham, answer new parent questions on their website, cindyandjana.com, and they also have a great breastfeeding app: NuuNest.