WRITTEN BY
Christy Jo Hendricks, IBCLC, RLC, CLE, CCCE, Doula
Christy Jo Hendricks, IBCLC, is an international speaker, health educator, inventor, and author with over two decades of experience supporting families across hospital, public health, WIC, community, and private practice settings. She is the creator of a state-recognized IBCLC Prep Course and founder of Lactation University. These programs have successfully prepared hundreds of lactation professionals. Christy Jo is a recipient of multiple national and professional awards. She currently serves families and mentors future IBCLCs in Southern California.
“He who aims at nothing is sure to hit it.” - Zig Ziglar
You do not become successful at breastfeeding by chance; you become successful by choice. Sometimes a seemingly insignificant decision catapults you into the right (or wrong) direction.
Choose the Right Hospital and Prenatal Classes
Before you even give birth, you can make plans that will ensure the best advantage to mastering the mammary. Seek out a Baby-Friendly Designated Hospital for your birth. These hospitals follow “10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding” as part of their regular protocol. Baby-Friendly Hospital staff receive the designation by adhering to these steps:
1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is communicated to all staff.
2. Train all staff in the skills needed to implement this policy.
3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.
4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within the first hour after birth.
5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and maintain lactation, even during separation.
6. Give infants only breast milk, unless medically indicated.
7. Practice rooming-in, allowing mothers and infants to stay together 24/7.
8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand, responding to cues.
9. Give no pacifiers or artificial nipples to breastfeeding infants.
10. Foster breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them after discharge.
Since the hospitals follow evidence-based practices, breastfeeding initiation rates are often reported greater than 90% compared to approximately 70% nationally. If you cannot give birth in a Baby Friendly hospital, you can still request all 10 steps be followed by listing them on your Birth Plan.
Next, take some high-quality prenatal classes. Ideally, you should attend a class or series that focuses on childbirth and one that focuses on breastfeeding. Choose a childbirth educator who is well-versed in lactation and has a pro-breastfeeding philosophy. Many classes do not address how birth affects breastfeeding and it is an important topic to explore.
Create a Thoughtful Birth Plan
Format a well-thought-out Birth Plan or Birth Preference Sheet. Remember to address the postpartum period as well. Be sure to include immediate skin-to-skin, delaying any routine interventions and honoring the Golden Hour. Uninterrupted time together leads to early breastfeeding initiation. In addition, you might want to remind staff that you want to delay the bath for at least 24 hours. The DiCioccio study analyzed data from nearly 1,000 healthy newborns. The results showed that the rates of exclusive breastfeeding rose from 59.8% to 68.2% after implementing delayed bathing practice. Babies use their sense of smell to find the nipple and latch. Bathing a baby removes that built-in GPS for locating the milk supply.
Use Lactation Specialists Early
Take advantage of the lactation support available. Many hospitals have an IBCLC on staff or trained lactation nurses. Ask to see a specialist before you are discharged. IBCLCs provide the highest level of clinical support and can assess your latch, milk transfer and breastfeeding techniques. The Lactation Consultant can also identify feeding dysfunction and refer if there is suspected tongue-tie or an ineffective suck. Most of the time, babies nurse well and do not need intervention, but knowing who to seek out for help will give you peace of mind.
Address Feeding Challenges with Specialized Care
If you have a difficult birth, deliver by cesarean or require vacuum/forceps assistance, you might notice that breastfeeding in certain positions makes your baby uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are a host of professionals who can make suggestions and adjustments to resolve the issue. Someone who specializes in body work, myofascial therapists, craniosacral therapists, or pediatric chiropractors have special training and skills to assess your baby and get feeding back on track.
Babies may struggle to feed for a variety of reasons. One might be a frenula issue. This small piece of skin beneath the tongue may need to be assessed and released. If you are concerned, seek help from an ENT, pediatric dentist, pediatrician, or oral surgeon. Many IBCLCs can offer referrals to someone they work with since the IBCLC should be the one to follow-up after the procedure is complete.
There are many specialists who have made careers out of supporting breastfeeding families and are committed to seeing you succeed. If you are struggling with breastfeeding, get help early. No one should endure difficult, painful feeding sessions. Your road to recovery is paved with passionate people who want to help you have the best breastfeeding experience possible.
