Dear all,

One big way in which breastfeeding differs from giving up smoking is  
that you only get one chance to do it (per child) - whereas you can  
take several tries at giving up smoking until it works. So messages  
can be very different. (and I salute all the mothers who struggle with  
feeding issues for weeks and months before eventually making their way  
to full breastfeeding! :))

Another difference between breastfeeding and, say taking exercise or  
eating better, is that you can do those things bit by bit, whereas  
with breastfeeding you're either doing it or you're not. (Again, kudos  
to all those who make their way back from supplementing to exclusive  
breastfeeding). So it's harder to make those SMART goals - small,  
achievable, realistic and what's the T?

Maybe we could try bringing this approach into our work more - for  
example, one goal for a pregnant mother might be to 'listen to other  
mothers' experiences of breastfeeding', another 'to find out what  
causes sore nipples' or 'to find somebody knowledgeable about  
breastfeeding'. Maybe even 'to read a leaflet about it', 'to request  
skin to skin contact immediately after the birth', or 'to talk with my  
health care provider about breastfeeding.'

Later on, goals might be 'to breastfeed for a week/a month/ three  
months'.

What else can we think of to make the process more manageable for  
mothers for whom it's foreign?

Rachel
Rachel O'Leary, near Cambridge in UK

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