 |
||||||
 |
||||||
| Although 88% of new mothers in Canada want to initiate breastfeeding, only 68% of babies are breastfed when they leave the hospital. According to the Canadian Institute of Child Health, less than 30% of infants are receiving any breastmilk at age three months, and less than 5% of babies are still being breastfed by their first birthday. It is important for mothers to know that there are steps they can take to help ensure a successful breastfeeding relationship. Appropriate support, accurate information and unrestricted breastfeeding all contribute to successful breastfeeding. • Get accurate prenatal information about breastfeeding. Choose prenatal classes that are community-based, not hospital-based. If your hospital has restrictive policies regarding breastfeeding, you are not likely to hear the dangers of these policies in their hospital-based prenatal education programs. Attend La Leche League meetings, which can be a wonderful source of inspiration and information. • Start as early as possible. The newborn is most alert immediately after birth. Mothers should initiate breastfeeding as soon after birth as possible. Preferably, there would be no separation of mother and baby at any time. If the hospital you are giving birth in has routine separation of mother and baby at any time, you may want to re-negotiate this with your caregiver. If the hospital is unreceptive to your request, you may wish to consider another birth setting more supportive of your beliefs. • Feed your baby on demand. Do not wait until the baby is so upset that it is difficult for the baby to latch on. Keep your baby close and offer the breast often (at least every two hours). Your baby cannot be spoiled by sleeping with you and this will make breastfeeding much easier for you. • No artificial nipples or supplements should be given to breastfed babies. You may want to use a pacifier, but this should be delayed until your baby is 4-6 weeks old. Supplements such as sugar water and formula are not necessary in a normal healthy baby. The only thing that is accomplished by giving these supplements is a reduction in your own milk supply. You produce milk based on a supply and demand system. If you lessen the demand, you will reduce the supply. • Do not have formula in your home if you plan to breastfeed. This includes free samples from formula manufacturers. These gifts only promote the formula company's market share and contravene the World Health Organization's (WHO) code which Canada supports. Free samples undermine breastfeeding by undermining the mother's confidence in being able to breastfeed. The information materials contained in these packages have many factual errors as well as subtle and not so subtle promotion of formula feeding. Formula is an inferior substitute for breast milk and will never come close to offering the same benefits that you can provide to you and your baby by exclusively breastfeeding your child. |
||||||
|
|
||||||