Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Talk to your obstetrician, gynecologist or midwife before your baby is born. Find out if your birthing facility is pro-breastfeeding. Perhaps your hospital has nurses with advance lactation training or even lactation consultants you can meet with after you give birth, but before you go home with your baby.
Step2
Call the breastfeeding advice line, if your birthing facility has one. A breastfeeding advice line is a great place to start if you have any breastfeeding issues at all. You can find out whether your problem can be treated at home or whether you should see your doctor or a lactation consultant.
Step3
Employ a postpartum doula. A postpartum doula will come to your house to help with household chores, give you advice and help you with any lactation issues.
Step4
Hire a lactation consultant to come to your home. A lactation consultant in your home, observing you as you breastfeed is probably going to be the best option. She will be able to help you with any breastfeeding issues, and probably eliminate many of the discomforts associated with breastfeeding.
Step5
Enlist your pediatrician or general practitioner if you experience problems such as mastitis (infected milk duct) or thrush (yeast infection of the nipples). These doctors can help you with treatment and prescribe any needed medications.
Step6
Contact La Leche League. La Leche League is an organization with meetings in every major city. At the meetings, you can meet with other breastfeeding moms to discuss whatever issues or challenges you're dealing with. La Leche League meetings occur at least once a month, and usually more than that, depending on your location. La Leche League meetings are run by a facilitator who has a great deal of training and experience helping breastfeeding women.
Step7
See if your birthing facility has any new parent support groups. Many birthing facilities offer places where you can bring your baby and talk about breastfeeding issues with other moms and a lactation specialist.
