Giving Breastfeeding a Second Chance

Jennifer came to my Breastfeeding Essentials Class during her pregnancy with her third child, hoping to learn some tips to help her successfully breastfeed her new baby. She was very young when her first child was born, and had not attempted to breastfeed that baby. With her second baby, she tried breastfeeding but after a few weeks of frustration, sore nipples, and low milk supply she switched to formula. This time, Jennifer had more confidence as a mother and was ready to give breastfeeding a second chance. She wondered if there was anything she could do differently this time around that would prevent the problems she had experienced with her second baby. During class, Jennifer learned about the "3 Secrets to Success" that enable most mothers to have a positive, successful breastfeeding journey.

As she thought over her experience with her second baby, she remembered he was very sleepy and that the nurses told her "don't wake a sleeping baby" even though this meant he didn't feed very often. When he finally did wake up from his long naps, he would awake so hungry and mad that he would sometimes scream at the breast instead of latching. When Jennifer called her pediatrician's office they suggested she give him a small bottle of formula to help him calm enough to nurse. She didn't realize at the time the formula was filling his little belly, causing him to take less milk from the breast. As Jennifer thought about the powerful influence of frequent breast emptying on milk supply, she started to make the mental connection that her baby's long spaces between breastfeedings and top ups with formula had inadvertently caused her low milk supply. She was determined this time to be more vigilant about watching for her baby's feeding cues and if needed waking her up to ensure frequent feedings.

If you are expecting a new baby after a less than positive breastfeeding experience, connect with a lactation consultant now who can proactively support you through the journey. She can talk to you about the difficulties you experienced last time, screen for any underlying physical/health issues that can contribute to difficulties (about 5% of women have a medical reason why breastfeeding was difficult for them), and help you come up with a personalized plan for getting breastfeeding off to a good start. I always recommend taking a comprehensive breastfeeding class even if you've taken a class before. Although this proactive approach doesn't guarantee smooth sailing, it goes a long way to prevent common problems and it connects you with resources to turn to later if help is needed.