Have you heard of La Leche League? Well, you probably have, but maybe you never really learned what they are all about. LLL is a fabulous organization that supports breastfeeding around the world, and encourages free support groups for nursing mamas everywhere. I am part of a local group that helps eachother daily, because when anyone has a question, we post it in a yahoo group and get answers from other wonderful, wise members almost immediately.
No one should feel they are alone when struggling to get the hang of breastfeeding, and heaven knows it can be tough in the beginning! Many hospitals now offer Lactation Consultants to help new moms, but if yours doesn't, or if you need more support after, LLL can also help you find a Lactation Specialist in your area, or a support group, or an on-line support group if there are no Specialists or groups that meet in your area.
When little man was first born, I was basically handed my baby and told "he's hungry". I had no idea what to do. I never saw a woman breastfeed in person, and I certainly never had to care for a brand new little human being before (I'd never even changed a diaper!). I was nervous, and while little man knew what to do (G-d bless natural baby instincts), he didn't know how to do it in the best way for me (his latch wasn't that great), so I immediately started to get sore, bleed, and worse. The hospital offered a Lactation Specialist who decided to skip sitting with me to guide me because my baby wasn't as fussy as others. I basically left the hospital totally confused and none the wiser about how to correctly breastfeed.
Thank goodness for my local LLL chapter, which guided me toward finding a local doctor that exclusively specialized in breastfeeding, and who helped me get the hang of things. I went from crying every time little man was hungry, because I was scared to feed him, to just passing eight months as a nursing mom.
LLL also provides forums and products to help support you in your journey to give your child the best nourishment you can, so feel free to visit their site (at lll.org) for lots of answers and support, and a point in the right direction if you need something they don't have. Happy nursing, mamas!
No one should feel they are alone when struggling to get the hang of breastfeeding, and heaven knows it can be tough in the beginning! Many hospitals now offer Lactation Consultants to help new moms, but if yours doesn't, or if you need more support after, LLL can also help you find a Lactation Specialist in your area, or a support group, or an on-line support group if there are no Specialists or groups that meet in your area.
When little man was first born, I was basically handed my baby and told "he's hungry". I had no idea what to do. I never saw a woman breastfeed in person, and I certainly never had to care for a brand new little human being before (I'd never even changed a diaper!). I was nervous, and while little man knew what to do (G-d bless natural baby instincts), he didn't know how to do it in the best way for me (his latch wasn't that great), so I immediately started to get sore, bleed, and worse. The hospital offered a Lactation Specialist who decided to skip sitting with me to guide me because my baby wasn't as fussy as others. I basically left the hospital totally confused and none the wiser about how to correctly breastfeed.
Thank goodness for my local LLL chapter, which guided me toward finding a local doctor that exclusively specialized in breastfeeding, and who helped me get the hang of things. I went from crying every time little man was hungry, because I was scared to feed him, to just passing eight months as a nursing mom.
LLL also provides forums and products to help support you in your journey to give your child the best nourishment you can, so feel free to visit their site (at lll.org) for lots of answers and support, and a point in the right direction if you need something they don't have. Happy nursing, mamas!
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