I’m a little bit of researcher. I know, who isn’t in this age of information overload?
But, I really do like to know what I’m getting myself into even, as in the case of having a baby, when there’s really no way to fully prepare. I do lots of googling and library book searching to find as much information as I can, so it comes as no surprise that I have a list of favorite resources in my back pocket for the topics I’m most interested in, like breastfeeding.
Yeah, I know it’s usually the “Top 5” when people do these lists, but I’m not going to stretch it. These three resources were all I needed and I really think they cover all the bases.
Whether you’re a mom preparing to breastfeed her first baby or a new mother dealing with some challenges in nursing your newborn, here the resources that I’m hoping will help you as much as they helped me:
- Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers
: I liked that this book looked at how, though breastfeeding is a very natural thing, it isn’t instinctual for the mother. It was a very practical guide to using common sense without being too factual. I think one of the biggest problems I faced when I started nursing was the over abundance of information (dos and don’ts) I was inundated with that caused me to second guess every move I made.
- Baby Led Breastfeeding… The Mother-Baby Dance: This is an incredible video. Though breastfeeding is not instinctual for mothers, it is instinctual for the infant and you get to see exactly how it works. This DVD, which you may be able to find at your local library, is only about 15 minutes long, so it’s not a huge time commitment.
- La Leche League International: La Leche has a great website full of research and book references. You can also get connected with a local chapter through their site. I have trouble motivating myself to attend new groups by myself, but I somehow got up the courage to attend one meeting before I had Little Man and I’m so glad I did. It was a huge leg up just to see other women nurse in person and to hear their stories. I’ve since attended a few, but thanks for nap schedules and playdates and meetings that only happen once a month, I’ve had trouble attending them regularly.
If you’re struggling with breastfeeding and just want to talk to someone, please feel free to reach out to me. I am not a lactation consultant but I can, at the very least, provide a listening ear and do my best to find you an answer.
