Christine Montgomery Child Psychology

Christine Montgomery Child Psychology

Christine Montgomery Child Psychology

Making plans for breastfeeding is the best way to ensure success. Planning while pregnant for nursing success can help a new mother prevent common obstacles that can lead to premature weaning. Exclusive breastfeeding, early initiation and breastfeeding on demand are just three of several ways a mom can plan for success.

Initiate Breastfeeding Right After Childbirth

During the first hour after childbirth, an infant is being imprinted with the sights, sounds and sensations of life outside the womb. Breastfeeding not only helps the baby but the mother as well. According to Alicia Dermer, MD, IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), who authored the article “A Well-Kept Secret: Breastfeeding's Benefits to Mothers,“ published in the Breastfeeding Annual 2001 when mother nurses following birth, it helps her body release oxytocin, a hormone that prevents postpartum hemorrhage and aids in the detachment of the placenta. Immediate nursing helps a mother recover from childbirth faster. Dermer also says that breastfeeding mothers are less likely to develop postpartum depression because a suckling infant stimulates a hormonal reaction (oxytocin and prolactin) in mothers that helps foster a sense of well being, and helps stimulate maternal bonding.

Most baby-centered caregivers will make sure that the baby is placed in the mother's arms immediately at birth. Women who have a successful early nursing relationship often attribute it to constant contact with their newborns in a safe, comfortable environment.