by Shen-Li Lee

Created on: July 15, 2009   Last Updated: July 18, 2009

Despite the fact that breastfeeding is one of the most natural ways to feed your baby, it doesn't necessarily follow that the process is easy. While some mothers do fall naturally into the whole cycle, for others, learning how to breastfeed can be a real nightmare. If you are one of these mothers, you may find your enthusiasm to breastfeed your baby flagging when the going gets rough - and it can get very rough. Here are some tips which can be helpful for surviving those early days.

1. During your pregnancy, read as much as you can on the subject. A good book to read is one by La Leche League called "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", but basically anything that you can find that offers tips and tricks for breastfeeding will be helpful.

2. Attend those prenatal sessions that talk about breastfeeding and demonstrate how it is done. Although this isn't the same as getting one on one advice on how to breastfeed, it prepares you for the process.

3. Let your doctor know that you intend to breastfeed your baby so that you will be given an opportunity to nurse your baby before he is taken for all those checks they perform right after birth.

4. Make sure your partner is in full agreement with your desire to breastfeed before the baby is born. It is difficult enough learning how to breastfeed and to develop a nursing relationship with your baby without having arguments with your partner on how the baby should be fed.

5. Make sure you breastfeed your baby once before leaving the delivery room. A baby's root reflex is strongest at birth and you want to capture this moment before it begins to diminish.

6. During the early days after your delivery, you will often have lots of visitors with even more well-meaning advice. Some of this advice may be critical of breastfeeding and they may even challenge your choices. Make sure your partner deals with such negative individuals because you don't need the added stress of having someone peering over your shoulder and telling you your baby is frustrated by the fact that he (or she) is hungry and cannot get enough milk.

7. Get support from the lactation consultant, the nurses, friends and family members who have breastfed before and can advise you on how to go about it. What you need to learn is how to position the baby, how to help baby get a proper latch onto the breast and what is a proper latch. Although this is described quite well in books, it is not the same as having someone experienced in the art of breastfeeding

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