Breastfeeding is best: It's the most natural & best way to feed your baby
It's in the magazine ads and on the sides of formula containers: "Breastfeeding is best for babies." While many factors make it tough for women to decide if breastfeeding is right for them, it's proven that breastfeeding has many benefits.
Good for mom and baby
"Natural," but a learned skill
Is the baby getting enough milk?
Expert help from day one
After the hospital
Good for mom and baby
Studies show that breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer as well as osteoporosis. It increases metabolism, which can help new moms get back to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner. It's an inexpensive feeding method. And, it can strengthen the baby's immune system. "My husband has a lot of allergies," says Jennifer McHugh, who delivered her son William at Virtua. "One of my main reasons for breastfeeding is to prevent my son from suffering with them as well."
"Natural," but a learned skill
Edward Rosof, MD, a board-certified pediatrician who has been practicing for more than 27 years, emphasizes that mothers who can't or choose not to breastfeed should never feel guilty. "Breastfeeding has NOTHING to do with being an excellent, loving mother. It's strictly a personal decision."
If breastfeeding is natural, it should be simple, right? "Not always. New mothers, just like babies, sometimes need to learn how to breastfeed, and need support to be successful," says Elizabeth Corcory, RN, an international board-certified lactation consultant at Virtua West Jersey Hospital Voorhees.
McHugh had a cesarean section, which made breastfeeding more difficult for her in the beginning. "Elizabeth taught me the football hold so William wasn't lying on my incision. Without the support of my family and Elizabeth, I probably would have given up."
Is the baby getting enough milk?
Even when a new mom feels comfortable with breastfeeding, she still might worry that the baby isn't getting enough milk. "As long as the baby is gaining weight, is satisfied after eating and the breast is sufficiently producing milk, don't worry," says Dr. Rosof, who was twice named a Top Doc for Kids by Philadelphia Magazine. According to Corcory, the best and most practical way for a new mom to be reassured her infant is getting enough milk is to track the baby's diapers (what goes in must go out).
Expert help from day one
Breastfeeding isn't as simple as it appears and, when problems do arise, it's important to get professional advice. Dr. Rosof says: "It's not that family and friends are necessarily wrong, but the advice can be inaccurate."
Women who have their babies at Virtua Memorial Hospital Burlington County or Virtua Voorhees can begin right in the hospital. "The nurses are trained to help new moms initiate breastfeeding, as well as offer ongoing support in the hospital. If there are more complex issues, a certified lactation consultant can assist you," says Corcory. "Getting comfortable early is important. The hormones that regulate milk production are established during this early period. Breastfeeding works on the principle of supply and demand," she says.
After the hospital
For a breastfeeding consultation, class or free support group, call 1-888-Virtua-3. New moms (even those who did not deliver at Virtua) with breastfeeding questions can speak with a certified lactation consultant.