Breastfeeding.

It isn't always easy. In fact, sometimes it can be quite challenging.  Many
might think that the act of breastfeeding comes natural to a woman. Often
times there are several outside factors that can make it difficult to last
much past a few weeks, despite a mothers desire to continue.

Once this happens, and a mother is no longer able to nurse her newborn
baby suddenly becomes depressed, feeling a lack of self worth and as if
she has failed. When in fact, she has done the best she could with the
information she had. After all, there is no one who cares more for the well
being of that child than the mother itself.

That is why if you pair up prenatal education along with postpartum
support, your breastfeeding journey is sure to have a sound start. The
heart of these two resources in our community is just this.

Breastfeeding is in fact natural. It is what we, as women, were meant to
do. So why then do we have so many mothers only nursing a couple of
weeks before they throw in the towel? And if they tough thru to the two
week challenge, then three months seems to be the most common ending
point for many Mamas.

In the United States of America, our weaning
average is three months old, compared to the world average of four years
old; we need to begin looking at our community, our tribe if you will. The
Sisterhood that supports these women.

Similar to birth educational classes empowering women with the ability to
give birth naturally, a prenatal breastfeeding class can empower a woman
to breastfeed her baby with confidence. Knowledge before baby arrives
can better prepare her with the essential information of what to expect,
how to avoid complications and with the ability to embrace challenges as
they arise.

Postpartum care is just as important as prenatal care. Often times it is
over looked. Once baby arrives she WILL need support.

Gentle counseling and guidance offered to a new mom can be crucial in
her breastfeeding journey. Checking her baby’s latch, sharing with her
new positions at home, reminding her what is needed for a healthy milk
supply and encouraging her that support is there for her, these are all
examples of how this can be done.

Here are some numbers, 90% of complications that women experience in
the first 3 months of their breastfeeding journey can be easily counseled
through the educational and supportive services of a certified lactation
educator and counselor (CLEC). It is really only 5% of these women that
have severe complications requiring more intense assistance.

The other 5% that experience complications in nursing, I have found to be
an emotional disconnect from the mother. In other words, she is
psychologically unable to get there, mentally she just can’t breastfeed.
Statistics show that only 1% of women experience lactation failure and are
unable to physiologically produce milk in their breasts.

So lets unite.

Let us come together as a Sisterhood and offer any kind of support that we
can to women in our community. After all, they are supernatural beings,
created to create.

Act in Love.

Go in Peace.