RBGs! i have been spending my early mornings helping a fellow new mama out with her little one at her home. it’s been a lot of fun for me but i can see that the mama is not having such a great time. breastfeeding for her started off a bit rocky. she had a cesarean and hospital staff waited close to 12 hours before they actually brought baby to her to nurse. that really sucks. i wish more hospitals adopted the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative created by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) is a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to encourage and recognize hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for infant feeding. The BFHI assists hospitals in giving mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies or feeding formula safely, and gives special recognition to hospitals that have done so.

it would really make a difference in the mother’s (thus entire family’s) life if the mama received that support from the beginning. how stressful is it for both mama and baby in the weeks or months that follow.

outside of the basic lactation support i can give her, i can only encourage this mama (and other mamas on the upward slope to successful breastfeeding) is to just PERSEVERE! keep pushing through the discomfort, the soreness, the frustration. it is so worthwhile.

for other mamas that may be facing the same obstacles, if you can, find someone who can just be with you, who has gone through what you’ve gone through, and who can support you through your efforts. and if you can find support in person, find it on-line, through support groups like La Leche League.

as a new treat, this feature (RBG) will also be sharing breastfeeding tips. so let’s get it popping!
a tip for sore nipples:
after each feeding express a few drops of milk manually and massage them into your nipples. breast milk (and colostrum) is a natural skin soother and promotes healing.

here’s another RBG for you mamas.

until next time! feed them babies!!!