In modern society, breastfeeding is often seen as something difficult and something we don't know enough about. This is partly because in society we don't see babies being fed openly as often as we should. The result is a group of women who have to 'learn' breastfeeding, often from the start, as soon as their baby is born. Besides having to learn how to breastfeed, after a long labor, a surgical procedure or sleepless nights, problems can arise that seem difficult to overcome with a tired and emotional mind. That's why it's good to be prepared with useful tools and information that can help you overcome potential challenges in the early days.

Breastfeeding can seem like it's not going well in the first days and weeks after birth. If breastfeeding isn't going smoothly, it can be easy to feel like you've failed or give up, even if you wanted to breastfeed longer. But many breastfeeding problems, such as a baby who doesn't latch on well, who you feed too often or who doesn't gain weight quickly enough, are not problems but just short periods of time when you need extra input and advice to create a plan that will help you can solve them.

At Midwives Lelystad we provide breastfeeding education, delivered by one of our certified midwives, in which we discuss how you can overcome any challenges you may have during your breastfeeding journey. The most important thing to know in advance is the following:

From 36/37 weeks of pregnancy you can start expressing or harvesting colostrum. Learning how to express breast milk during pregnancy can help you collect enough milk to freeze and use during the first few days after birth, when breastfeeding is developing. Even if you don't collect colostrum (the first milk), you can feel more confident handling it and learning how your breasts work to supply your baby with milk. For more guidance on learning to pump by hand, join our live and interactive education on colostrum collection, delivered by one of our midwives.
Babywearing can make it easier for your baby to access breastfeeding, while still allowing you to do other things and move around while feeding. It may take some time to get used to swaddling and carrying your baby, but there are many videos available to help you. Baby carriers aren't just for taking your baby with you when you're on the go, use them indoors too so your baby can nurse when he or she wants and feel comforted by being close to you.
Investing in a well-fitting nursing bra can help prevent problems such as clogged milk ducts and/or mastitis. A bra that doesn't fit properly can restrict milk flow and make your breasts uncomfortable and even contribute to mastitis (sore and inflamed breast tissue). The same goes for tight or restrictive clothing. Make sure your bra fits well and provides support and that your clothing is loose and preferably made of natural fibers such as cotton, wool or silk so that your body can breathe.
Up to 10% of babies may have a form of shortened tongue tie at birth. The diagnosis of a shortened tongue tie is made when the baby's frenulum has formed in such a way that the tongue can move in a limited or different way in the mouth. The frenulum is the piece of skin that anchors the tongue to the floor of the mouth. In some babies it extends more than normal to the tip of the tongue or is thicker and more restricted where it attaches. Many babies with a tongue tie can breastfeed without any problems for you or them, so the current advice is to monitor feeding before considering tongue tie removal. If necessary, a tongue tie can be cleaved by a specialist during a quick outpatient procedure. Love,
Midwives Lelystad