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Preparation For Breast-feeding

La Leche League - look for a local group. If you want to learn how to do something, go to someone who is successful at it. They have vast resources including professionals worldwide.

Nursing Mother's Association - like La Leche, offers correct information, problem solving skills and support.

Find and read a good book on breast-feeding. Avoid booklets put out by formula companies and infant feeding equipment companies. Anything put out with a big brand name on it may have a financial interest in selling formula or equipment to replace the baby at the breast. There is a time and a place for these things, but not when you are in a normal breast-feeding situation.

Classes taught by a Certified Lactation Consultant, a very important person to know if the other groups are not available.

Talk to successful breast-feeding moms who have totally breast-fed their baby for as long as you want to. (Two weeks and then on to the bottle doesn't cut it, unless that's what you want to do)

Some hospital classes are very good but beware of the possible negative influences of the hospital procedures and policies upon good solid breast-feeding support and advice. The nurse teaching the class may know how to combat these.

Avoid people with breast-feeding horror stories. I'll bet 99% of these problems could have been avoided with proper support and correct information. I can't tell you how many moms have lamented to me, "Oh, if I had only known..."

Your doctor - unfortunately not too many of them are very knowledgeable yet due to a lack of interest or training. You may be able to find one who is supportive through one of the support groups or the lactation consultant in your area.

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