𝑲𝒆𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒇𝒖𝒍 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 – 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚:
🤱 Physiological birth.
When birth is undisturbed, there’s no interference with the hormones responsible for breastfeeding and no interference with baby’s innate feeding reflexes.
🤱 Early initiation and frequent skin-to-skin.
Frequent skin-to-skin contact allows plenty of opportunity for frequent breastfeeding as well as facilitating the release of oxytocin and prolactin – the hormones responsible for breastfeeding.
🤱 Birthing in a Baby Friendly Hospital or at home.
This supports the 10 Steps of Successful Breastfeeding implemented by WHO and UNICEF which have been shown to influence breastfeeding rates.
🤱 Frequent, unrestricted access to the breast.
The more a baby feeds in the early hours, days, weeks, influences the development of prolactin receptor sites at the breast. It is the number of these receptor sites which become the driving force of long term milk production and supply.
🤱 Feeding baby on demand.
Allows your baby to regulate it’s own supply based on demand which is highly driven by a mother’s milk storage capacity.
🤱 A supportive partner.
Can be one of the most important factors to successful breastfeeding. Women are much more likely to not only initiate, but breastfeed for longer when they have a supportive partner. Antenatal education plays a big role in this.
🤱Being aware of local supports.
Knowing where to turn to for support in your pregnancy makes this task so much easier in postpartum if you have any breastfeeding challenges.
🤱 Time and patience.
Yes, breastfeeding is natural, but it’s a LEARNED skill. It takes approximately 6 weeks to establish breastfeeding and 6 weeks for your body to regulate a supply based on demand.
Go slowly. Let go of expectations. Take it one day at a time. ❤
To get informed about breastfeeding your baby, join me for a 3 hour Breastfeeding Workshop where I cover all of this and plenty more.