I often get asked ‘What can I do to prepare for breastfeeding?’. My answer is simple enough, get educated and get support. So, lets look at both of those ideas.

Education

There is a lot of information out there at our fingertips but not all information is created equal. I feel in preparing for breastfeeding your best source of information and education is from a breastfeeding expert who is also trained in adult education or training. There are only a small number of professionals who meet both of those criteria. In relation to being a breastfeeding expert that could be an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant or an experienced Breastfeeding Counsellor who have also completed certification in antenatal education and or adult education.

You may notice I haven’t mentioned midwives. This isn’t to say that there are no midwives who are also experts in breastfeeding, there are many, but being a midwife alone does not a breastfeeding expert make and I see this every day in the postnatal clients I support and the varying quality of information and support they get from hospital based midwives, from exceptional, to very poor.

In relation to being qualified in antenatal education something you can look for is: are they trained by Cuidiu or the NHS? are they registered with FEDANT (Federation of Antenatal Educators)? or at the very least that they have a Trainer the Trainer Certificate QQI Level 6? Using these criteria means that your educator should be up to date with the best international evidence but also be skilled in teaching and helping adults learn. Some people can be experts in their field but without the ability to impart that knowledge in a way that people can absorb it can feel more like a lecture than a class or workshop. Ever had a teacher who couldn’t teach? Yea me too!

In addition to those two criteria mentioned I feel that live classes are better for learning that sticks with you, whether it’s in-person or online. Recorded classes for some topics can be great but there’s just so much involved in a Breastfeeding Preparation Workshop I find that parents-to-be get a lot more from a live class. It lets you ask questions as they come up and also to practice skills in real time. I would also suggest a small group class or a 1:1. In both of these you can ask your questions with ease and there is time for everyone’s questions. In large online classes, for example, often questions are only allowed in the chat box and the nuances of the question may be lost or not all questions are answered. Making it conversational improves learning and retention of the information and is also generally a much nicer experience.  

Support

Having good knowledge of how breastfeeding works is a great stepping stone to getting off to a good start but support is also key. Your Number 1 supporter should be your partner, or if single, another adult who will be around during the post-partum period. This Number 1 supporter should attend your breastfeeding class with you; to be the best supporter they can be they need to have the knowledge too.

Your next level of support is your community. Is there a local breastfeeding support group? If you are in Ireland check out Cuidiu, La Leche League, Friends of Breastfeeding and the HSE. We always hear ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ and it really does but in Cuidiu we also believe it takes a village to support a parent. We were never meant to walk this journey alone so reach out to your local breastfeeding supporters and attend a group while still pregnant, you will be more than welcome. This can help you feel more comfortable attending once the baby is born but also give you an early sneak peak of what breastfeeding looks like. You might also meet your new best friend! I met my best friends, six of them, at breastfeeding support group almost 9 years ago. We transitioned from breastfeeding group, to coffee mornings in each other’s houses, to playcentres, to lunch dates, to nights out, to domestic weekends away and finally this year we have an international trip planned together! These ladies are an integral part of my village, maybe you’ll also find yours at breastfeeding group.

It can also be very helpful to find a local lactation consultant when still pregnant, whether you just hold onto their contact details in case they are needed or you choose to engage them while pregnant for a class or to prearrange breastfeeding support. If your local lactation consultant offers Breastfeeding Support Packages and you are in a financial position to avail of one of these they are a great investment in your breastfeeding journey, much more than any gadget or device that you could purchase. If you have private health insurance it likely your insurer will reimburse some or all of the fee.

So that sums it up really, quality education and support are the keys to preparing for breastfeeding and getting off to a smooth start. If you would like more I recently did a Breastfeeding Q&A on Instagram live and you can find the recording here to have more of your breastfeeding questions answered!

Also, while you're in preparation mode have you packed your hospital bag yet? If not check out my free ULTIMATE HOSPITAL BAG LIST, forget the rest, this has all the basics and the must haves that no one mentions!