Infant Feeding Info and Resources
If you are interested in breastfeeding or chest feeding, here are three things you can do to be ready for and manage any challenges you might face:
Educate yourself on this topic during pregnancy and gather resources for trouble-shooting minor issues that come up in the moment.
Do what you can in advance to ensure you have the best support possible at work and at home. There may also be local support groups, like La Leche League, to join.
Get help ASAP from an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) if you are having any major breastfeeding or chest feeding issues or feel like you’re struggling.
This blog post is meant to help you get started in educating yourself and becoming familiar with resources for learning more and for navigating challenges in the moment.
Current Recommendations and Benefits of Breastfeeding/ Chest Feeding
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends:
“Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months. There is no need to introduce infant formula or other sources of nutrition for most infants. Beyond 6 months, breastfeeding should be maintained along with nutritious complementary foods.”
“There are continued benefits from breastfeeding beyond 1 year, and up to 2 years especially in the mother. Long-term breastfeeding is associated with protections against diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancers of the breast and ovaries.”
The above recommendations, along with others, can be found at the link below:
Breastfeeding has many benefits, which you can read about by clicking the following link:
Alternative Options
It’s important to be informed of the recommendations, but decisions surrounding infant feeding are very personal and are yours to make. Evidence should inform our decisions, but it isn’t the only factor. YOU are also a factor! While breastfeeding has many benefits, there are reasons why people choose/ need to use an alternative (or switch before the end of the first year). Here are a few:
Personal preference
Breastfeeding challenges
Health issues
Barriers when returning to work or school
Gender dysphoria
Lack of support
Lack of resources
Concerns surrounding modesty
Social and cultural influences
Remember, we don’t all have the same levels of support at work and at home. We aren’t experiencing the same challenges.
Here are some alternative options for infant feeding:
Pumped or hand-expressed breast milk
Formula
Donor milk
Milk sharing
Preferred Terminology
You can also make decisions on the language you prefer to use. Make sure to communicate your preferences to the appropriate people. Here are some options:
Breastfeeding, chest feeding, body feeding
Nursing, lactating
Breast milk, chest milk, human milk
Pumping, expressing
Supplementing, combination feeding, mixed feeding
Education
Breastfeeding can be very challenging! It’s important to start educating yourself on the topic, if you are planning to breastfeed or if you aren’t sure yet. I highly recommend taking a local or online breastfeeding class, if you can. Also, attending local breastfeeding support group meetings, like La Leche League, during pregnancy can be very helpful.
There are also lots of resources available for becoming informed about your options. Here are a few:
How you choose to feed your baby is just one of many decisions you will make when it comes to birth and beyond. Having insight on how you might want to navigate your journey is so important. I have a quiz that can help with this. Click the button below to discover and explore your Birth Journey Archetype.