Breastfeeding: A Little Support Can Make All the Difference

Will I have enough milk? When can I pump? Why do my nipples hurt so much? How do I tell if my baby is getting enough to eat?

These are just a handful of the many questions mothers-to-be contemplating breastfeeding and new breastfeeding mothers may have on their minds. Such concerns can make a mother panic! To get through it all she needs is a little support.

According to Trisha Noack, La Leche League International Public Relations Director and a LLL leader, “Today 72 percent of women in the U.S. are initiating breastfeeding; all too soon many of them switch to artificial feeding, usually from lack of information, embarrassment, criticism from relatives and friends or through confusion. With correct information and support from mothers who have been there, women work through these breastfeeding management problems and are able to continue giving their babies all the precious gifts of breastfeeding longer.”

Support is vital to making breastfeeding work, according to Valley mothers, many of whom suggest seeking support prior to delivery.

“Read, read, read and talk to as many as people as possible, and don’t be afraid to ask questions,” suggests Madison mother Jessica Havin. Jessica prepared herself for daughter Lizzy’s arrival by reading The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding and Dr. Sears’ The Pregnancy Book and attending La Leche League meetings. Jessica was also pleased that Crestwood Medical Center was supportive of her request to let Lizzy room-in with her after delivery and not to give Lizzy any artificial nipples, both of which helped her establish her breastfeeding relationship with Lizzy.

Local Support Groups

Hartselle’s Erin Waddell also sought out information before her delivery of her son, Joey. She attended a breastfeeding class and support group, both at Decatur General Hospital (DGH). “I was told if you can get through the first two weeks, you got it made,” said Erin. Having that knowledge ahead of time allowed Erin to mentally prepare herself for any obstacles that came her way. After she delivered the DGH lactation consultant, Teresa Polk, helped her get Joey to latch on correctly once her milk came in.

Kayla Whitehead of Trinity, a nurse in the DGH nursery is breastfeeding her second child. “My co-workers really supported me, especially the ones who were breastfeeding, because we were all going through the same thing,” said Kayla. “Just hearing what other people are going through rather than sitting down and reading something makes a big difference.”

Huntsville’s Lisa Kennedy, mother to 3-year-old Grady and 1-year-old Allison, belongs to several breastfeeding support groups, including the Huntsville/Madison Mommy Milk Meetup. This group has an online component that connects her to other mothers in the Tennessee Valley. Lisa can post questions, concerns or interesting tidbits of information regarding breastfeeding on the group’s web site for other members to respond to. When Lisa noticed nursing Allison was starting to get painful after they had established their groove, she wondered what could be happening. She was pacified by several responses that Allison is probably teething, and that this can cause her latch to temporarily change. Lisa also enjoys being able to offer others support, especially those who haven’t been able to breastfeed in the past but want to try in the future. “I just want people to have that joy of breastfeeding,” said Lisa.

To get or give support to area mothers who are breastfeeding or are considering breastfeeding see the side bar for support groups within the Tennessee Valley.

Angie Gilchrist is a freelance writer who couldn’t have made it through breastfeeding without the support of her hubby and many lactation consultants in Decatur and Huntsville.