Introduction
Before the arrival of a newborn, several steps and items are necessary to help one prepare for breastfeeding. In this case, a mother needs to make particular decisions, some of which are easier to practice than others. Breastfeeding involves feeding one’s milk directly from the breast (Singh et al., 290). The decision on whether to breastfeed is a personal choice of the mother. The frequency of breastfeeding depends on the feeding habits of the baby, which change as it grows. The paper analyzes some of the necessary steps and things to prepare before breastfeeding. Making decisions, acquiring information, mental preparedness, and looking for nursing assistants are among the essential steps for good preparation. Moreover, nursing pillows, bras tops, and nipple creams are essential requirements during the last trimester and immediately after delivery.
Steps to Plan for Breastfeeding
Make a Decision
This is the initial step which involves deciding on whether one wishes to breastfeed or not. Before making choices, it is required to check the effect of the practice on the mother and child. Breastfeeding preparation ensures access to the requirements the baby needs during its first months. Breastfeeding facilitates the child in developing natural immunity against various infectious diseases. Nursing helps in boosting the child’s immunity before the first immunizations, which boosts their body’s potential to fight illness. Getting the correct information makes one to understand the actual benefits associated with breastfeeding. This aids the mother to embrace the practice and make appropriate decisions on whether to breastfeed or not. Therefore, the person can schedule an appointment with experts to fully understand the entire process and answer various questions as they appertain to breastfeeding. Through this, the mother is able to learn how to manage the whole process. Such services are offered in many health centers, and one can inquire from her doctor about the existing breastfeeding classes to attend. Finally, an expectant mother can gather information from other parents on various experiences of breastfeeding.
Prepare for Assistance
After the delivery, it is essential to understand that the mother needs as much rest as the baby to recover. Depending on the delivery method, one might require special treatment after the process, creating the need for assistance. In the first few days after delivery, the mother’s breast only produces colostrum which serves significant purposes for the newborn (Singh et al., 290). Nevertheless, the amount of milk produced during this period is small, and the baby may require supplements using other methods that would create the need for another person to help feed the newborn.
Mental Preparation
This occurs after one has gathered all material information about breastfeeding, position, and different techniques. The step requires one to run the entire process in the head by putting together all the necessary materials and practice. Proper mental coordination helps the mother’s body to be correctly conditioned and produce enough milk for the baby without strain. Prior preparation relieves the stress associated with the arrangement’s last-minute rush.
Make a Plan
This step involves putting together all the physical materials required for effective breastfeeding. An expectant mother must ensure the availability of every necessary item before the baby’s arrival. For instance, it is essential to ensure a room is set for the mother and baby before it comes. If one is to spend most of her day in single or two rooms, it is required to ensure available supplies in these quarters and easily reachable.
Essential Items to Prepare for Breastfeeding
Nursing Pillow
Breastfeeding pillows are different from a usual throw or household pillows. The baby and the mother need to exclusively use the pillow to ensure proper hygiene is maintained for the two. In addition, the material should be appropriately designed to fit the mother and support the baby during nursing. The pillow must also be flexible to offer room for various breastfeeding positions, as this helps to enhance comfort.
Nursing Bras
After delivery, a mother will require different bras from the initial ones that give easy access to the breast. They must also provide appropriate support for the breast as their sizes increase. In this case, one cannot predict the dimension of the breasts after the delivery (Singh et al., 290). Therefore, the mother needs to acquire different sizes of cups due to unpredictable changes in the breast over time.
Nursing Tops
Nursing tops are suitable during nursing as opposed to lifting one’s shirt or top. The tops are usually fitted with an opening or slit on each breast to ease the breastfeeding exercise. They tend to provide the required breast coverage and do not expose other body parts during nursing. When breastfeeding is done in public, simple receiving blankets are appropriate as they act as drapes.
Nipple Creams
To keep the breast dry and clean, particularly during nursing, nipple creams are used. In many cases, breastfeeding mothers experience chafing and irritation whenever their breast is left wet. To avoid this, nipple creams among lactating mothers are deemed appropriate. One needs to choose a water-based cream, particularly for sore nipples, that is safe for use when nursing. However, the choice of the cream should be guided by a nursing expert to ensure the mother and baby’s safety.
Conclusion
Most people may claim that there is nothing that expectant mothers need to do as they prepare for breastfeeding. However, the need for prior readiness is experienced when the baby starts feeding. Proper preparation will help ensure an appropriate support system that meets the needs of the lactating parent. However, despite any form of planning, one needs to adjust to the changing wants as they occur in the future.
Work Cited
Singh, Ajay Pratap, Vasantha HS Kumar, and Sanjeet Panda. “Supporting Breastfeeding in 2021 and Beyond—Lessons from the Pandemic.” Pediatric Reports, vol.13, no. 2, 2021, pp. 289–301.