I've not been able to keep up with Lactnet for several weeks due to being
off work and super busy, so I hope this isn't something recently discussed.

I would like to hear other peoples' thoughts on how to convey the idea to
mothers that breastfeeding will probably take some effort in the early days
and that it will pay off in being easier for the mother and baby in the
long run.  I keep hearing stories of women who quit or never tried because
they were just too worn out from childbirth, they had some minor problem
and didn't bother to call me or anyone else to help them and just quit, or
they just plain thought it was too much trouble.  Examples:

A very sweet and devoted mother of a toddler is expecting another baby this
month.  She tried breastfeeding her toddler a little but had a UTI and was
given antibiotics.  Nobody told her she couldn't breastfeed with the
antibiotics, she just assumed it and quit.  She regrets it and the toddler
had a lot of difficulty with formulas and had to use one of the expensive
easy to digest kind.  She wants to do it this time and I told her to be
sure to call me when the baby's born.  Will she?  Only about 1% do. (These
are people I see in  a public health maternity clinic)

A mother of two demanding toddlers had a baby last month. I'd helped her a
lot in my social work role and she said she'd try breastfeeding this time
just "for me."  She didn't even try it once, even though the student CNM
was an LC and she had my phone number.  She said "I was so exhausted after
birth.  I felt like I'd done enough for that baby for a while."

We used to give out brochures that said "Breastfeeding is Easy to Learn."
 I've realized those, although they're supposedly based on research, are
counterproductive.  We need something that conveys the idea "Breastfeeding
often takes time and effort to learn the first few weeks.  However, it will
payoff in the long run for you and your baby, so stick with it and you
won't regret it!"  Anyone have any brochures with that sort of message?

How about brochures about women's fear of pain with breastfeeding?

Anyone have anything on postpartum depression for patients?

How about diabetics and breastfeeding?

Lucy Towbin, LCSW, IBCLC

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