.........................Breast feeding.........................

....Begin to set up a support system for breast feeding and learn about how vitally important it is for you and your baby. Many families give up in the first few days. If you plan for support ahead of time you could avert a crisis. When your baby is screaming and your hormones are adjusting back to pre-pregnancy levels is not the best the time to be looking for help. Did I mention sleep deprivation? There are breast feeding classes, La Leche League meetings, help lines, and independent lactation consultants available for home visits if necessary. Research your options. While a hospital based lactation consultant can be helpful, your time with them will be very limited. You may have so many different people telling you how to do things that your confidence will be undermined by the time you get home.

....An initial consult is a good idea as most mothers encounter more challenges than they expect due to a number of factors. Know the warning signs of trouble and act quickly. There is a difference between discomfort and pain. The most common problem is "latch", or how your baby attaches to the breast. If not done correctly this can cause pain very quickly. Our culture generally does not support breastfeeding and we often don't have role models. Additionally, medicated births can affect both baby and mother's ability to function. Confidence may be low. The partner may not support breastfeeding. The recommended duration for breastfeeding, by the American College of Pediatrics is now one year. The average duration world wide is four years! Only 20% of Americans last six months. Remember that breastfeeding is the greatest gift you can give your baby.

 

.........................Infant Health.........................

....Choosing primary care for your baby also needs to be done before birth. If you want to be honored and respected in your choices for your baby find a practitioner who believes in empowering parents to make educated decisions. A family practitioner, homeopath, family care midwife, or pediatric chiropractor are usually less intervention-oriented with children. You need to decide how you will handle circumcision, vaccination, and how you feel about antibiotics and other medications. You may also consider co-sleeping or attachment parenting as options. Slings for carrying and nurturing babies are wonderful. You will have a multitude of decisions to make as a new parent. Make educated, informed decisions based on the facts.

 

.........................Postpartum Plan.........................

....We are often so focused on the birth that we forget we will be taking home this tiny, helpless person. What happens when we get home with our precious newborn is hardly given a second thought. Some mothers seem to snap right back to their former selves right away. Others may never be quite the same. The rest of us fall somewhere in between. Some babies seem very relaxed and easily fall into a comfortable routine. Others scream nonstop. Most fall somewhere in between. Don't be afraid to ask for help. There are no medals given for being super parents--everyone needs help and support and it's there if you reach for it. Some families provide great support while others are less available for a variety of reasons.

....You will heal better and faster if you get help with household chores--you will want to focus on bonding with baby. You need someone to mother you so you can mother your baby. If you are exhausted you might miss one of the most precious times of your lives. Just getting a meal together could seem like a daunting task in this situation so take some time to make a list of what kind of help you will need and from whom. Put phone numbers of possible sources on the list. Also decide how to handle incoming phone calls and visitors. Choose a friend or relative to arrange for others to help. Too much visiting can quickly exhaust a new mother and baby. Consider hiring a postpartum doula, getting postpartum care or a mother's helper.

 

................Celebrate Your Third Trimester!................

....If you decided to have a traditional shower, consider the option of recommending someone give you Doula services as a gift. Both labor support and postpartum doulas are worth their weight in gold! If you haven't had time to create you own Blessing Way ceremony, think again. This is a Native American tradition that honors and prepares mothers or parents for birth. The focus is on the woman preparing to become a mother. You can include fathers too or they can create their own separate ritual. We need to celebrate , support and honor one of the most important jobs we will ever do - bringing a child into our home and becoming parents.

 

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