1511cf66_all_To_Action_on_Breastfeeding__Topic
[ID] 893 [Interest Areas] Concerned Citizen Health Care Provider [Comment] As a first-time mom who successfully breastfed my child for 18 months I found that having access to affordable classes, a lactation consultant and a hospital setting that was conducive to breastfeeding extremely important. I had retained some of the placenta duirng delivery and did not know that until a weeek post-partum. Consequently my milk did not 'come in'. Without all of the things I listed above I would not have been able to eventually breastfeed, which I did exclusively until my daughter was 6 months old (and she started some solids) I was never encouraged to give up by the hospital staff. I was showed how to use a pump to help with my supply while we were figuring things out and after the D&C I needed (which then allowed my milk to come in). When I had to supplement until my milk did come in,I was shown how and encouraged to use a tube to deliver the milk at my breast, to keep my daughter interested in breastfeeding rather than become used to a bottle (we never used bottles). I visited a lactation consultant at the hospital we delivered at regularly during the first three months of my daughters life and had access to support groups. After my daughter was born the hospital also gave me the chance to nurse her right in the delivery room before anything else happened. She slept next to my bed and noone suggested I should place her in a nursery away from me and the chance to breastfeed. My husband was also given the information he needed to support me. When I needed to stay at the hospital for my D&C to remove the placenta I had retained I was able to bring my daughter with me and she stayed with me the whole time I was hospitalized. This allowed us to maintain our connection and breastfeeding relationship as I was able to nurse her right up until my surgery, pump with a hospital pump right after and continue nursing her as soon as it was safe. During my process of learning to breastfeed, many others (family and 'friends') told me to give up and often I wondered if they were right, doubting my ability to provide for my daughter in this way. Other times I was frustrated and thought maybe it wasn't worth it. But the hospital and post-delivery care staff never doubted me, provided me with research based information to guide me and helped me reach my goal for which I am eternally grateful. All of this was covered by my insurance. I would hope not only lucky people like me would have the support I recieved and that the services I was provided with would be available to ALL mothers and children. [Topic] 
Maternal and Infant Care Practices: Prenatal, Hospital, and Post-Delivery Care
Call To Action on Breastfeeding
Topic