For some new moms, breastfeeding can be an incredible bonding time with their newborn. But it can also be fraught with uncertainty if they are experiencing problems with feeding their baby. It’s reported that mothers who struggle with breastfeeding because they lack confidence in the process are more likely to give up on breastfeeding. One of the reasons experts believe moms lack confidence is the lack of a support system to help them during this demanding time.
The right support group is often more like a team that includes family and friends, lactation consultants, and breastfeeding groups. Here are some tips for finding the support you need.
Ask your partner, family, and friends to support you during breastfeeding
How to find breastfeeding support groups and resources
Even after you get the hang of breastfeeding, you may find a need for support as you return to work or do more activities away from the house. Many moms still feel a stigma, though they shouldn’t, about breastfeeding in public and don’t always know what their rights are. Having a support group of women who have done it all is helpful.
“Look for local support groups, they often have free breastfeeding support groups where you can get latch evaluations and suggestions to strengthen that bond,” lactation specialist Kesha Tinney Bailey of Blended Baileys, Birth and Babies advised Mom.com. “Virtual support can be great, but there is something to be said for in-person, hands-on support.”
Some popular large support groups with local chapters around the US include:
- La Leche League International: This is an international nonprofit where moms get help from other moms. This is a peer-led organization where group leaders are moms who have already successfully breastfed their babies.
- Nursing Mothers Counsel: A group of professionals and nursing mom peers that offer free lactation counseling services or classes. The group provides lactation training to counselors and nursing professionals who support moms in person, by phone, or via email.
- Breastfeeding USA: A group with the mission of providing evidence-based breastfeeding information to help promote breastfeeding and support moms along the journey.
Support groups are great ways to also make new friends, and may lead to future friendships for your kids as well.
