In case you haven't seen this one, I read about it on the U.S. Indian Health
Service webpage.  The link for this little blurb is
http://www.ahrq.gov/research/may07/0507RA18.htm

***********
Despite the benefits of early breastfeeding, many women find it unexpectedly
difficult and painful
Breastfeeding has regained popularity in North America during the past
decade; however, breastfeeding during the first month after birth can be
physically challenging. Christa M. Kelleher, Ph.D., of the University of
Massachusetts, interviewed 52 women from Canada and the United States
approximately 1 month postpartum about their experience of breastfeeding.
Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of the women mentioned the pain and/or
discomfort associated with breastfeeding. 

These women were generally surprised by the extent, intensity, and duration
of the discomfort and pain, which ranged from mild to severe. Several women
even noted that the discomfort of breastfeeding affected their relationship
with their baby. Other women said that they were hesitant to continue the
practice due to feelings of physical vulnerability, pain, and/or discomfort.
Finally, assistance provided by health care practitioners had both positive
and negative effects on women's experiences of breastfeeding.

Many women, particularly first-time mothers, said they felt overwhelmed by
the enormous responsibility of breastfeeding, concerned about failing, and
guilty when they acknowledged their own physical limitations or personal
needs. Of all the women who initiated breastfeeding during the first days
following birth, the vast majority were still breastfeeding by the time of
the interview 1 month postpartum.

Of these women, more than half (53 percent) were breastfeeding exclusively
at the time of the interview, 17 percent fed their infants pumped breast
milk in addition to breastfeeding, 21 percent used formula in addition to
breastfeeding, and 9 percent combined breastfeeding with pumping and formula
feeding. Dr. Kelleher recommends that acknowledging the physical challenges
of breastfeeding would better validate many women's experiences. Her study
was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (HS10790).

More details are in "The physical challenges of early breastfeeding," by Dr.
Kelleher, in the November 2006 Social Science & Medicine 63, pp. 2727-2738.
*************

The link for the IHS breastfeeding webpage is 
http://www.ihs.gov/MedicalPrograms/MCH/M/bf.cfm 

What do you folks say to women prenatally to prepare them for the reality of
the first couple of weeks of breastfeeding?

Cheers,
Chris

Chris Mulford, RN, IBCLC
LLL Leader Reserve
Newly retired from WIC Bf Initiative, South Jersey, USA
Chair, Workplace Bf Support Committee, USBC
Co-coordinator, Women & Work Task Force, WABA
 
 

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