Tips for having a Successful Breastfeeding Relationship
By Melissa Possley Taylor

Please note: These tips are for healthy full-term babies. It is sometimes necessary or advisable to supplement a premature baby with formula and/or give pacifier if the baby does not have 24 hour-a-day access to mother’s breast. If this is the case, a diet of 100% mother’s breast-milk can be established later.

Your attitude is important. Don’t think/say that you are going to try to breastfeed, but rather that you will breastfeed. Saying you are going to try something implies that you think you are likely to fail. For example: Are you going to finish that entire piece of cake? Well, I'm going to try. You wouldn't say you're going to try to go to work. You are going to go to work. If you don't go to work it is because something very unexpected happened. As Yoda says, "Do or do not. There is not try."

Have a support network in place prior to your birth. A support network can include other moms who have or who are nursing, la leche league leaders, lactation counselors or lactation consultants. Keep in mind that nursing mothers are limited to only their own experiences. If anyone gives you advice that doesn't sound good to you, no matter what their experience or qualifications, seek a second opinion and do research on your own.

Choose a pediatrician who supports breastfeeding. Every pediatrician will say they are supportive. Ask questions when choosing a pediatrician such as, “under what circumstances would you advise me to introduce formula to my baby’s diet?” "What percentage of your families breastfeed?"

Having a natural birth is best to get your breastfeeding relationship off to a good start. However, if you are unable to have a natural birth, nursing can still be established.

Nurse as soon as possible after birth, most babies will latch on within the first hour. If your baby has to be separated from you for health reasons, begin expressing your milk as soon as possible and within six hours of the birth.

Avoid putting your baby on a feeding schedule; nurse your baby whenever he or she is hungry. Newborn babies usually nurse every 1.5-2 hours, but sometimes it is more frequent, especially in evening hours when babies "cluster feed" and during growth spurts. This is normal.

Think of nursing as a time to relax and bond with your baby. There is nothing more important that you need to be doing right now. Everything else can wait.

Avoid supplementing with formula or water. Milk is produced on a supply and demand system. Supplementing will cause mother’s supply to go down.

Say “no thank you” to free samples of formula and avoid keeping formula in your house. Tell anyone who offers you a free sample of formula that you don't appreciate being the target of a marketing campaign that undermines breastfeeding.

Avoid artificial nipples (bottle and pacifiers) for the first 4-6 weeks until a strong nursing relationship is established.

Surround yourself with positive support; ask anyone not supportive to keep their feelings to themselves or to leave.

Mothers should continue to eat a healthy diet, increase their fluid levels and get as much rest as they can. Sleep when the baby sleeps.