Websites or links to give expecting moms about breastfeeding?

[crayonblue]

Specifically, I am looking for a succinct summary of the pros of breastfeeding. I have two friends who are expecting and I don't think either are 100% set on breastfeeding so I am hoping to give them some information that might make them more interested or open-minded about it. Also, both will most likely be going back to work so information on pumping and working would be beneficial.

I know the benefits of nursing but I think researched information by a professional might be more helpful.

I was breastfed for 18 months and DH for 12 months so I went into the nursing arena not thinking that there was really another option. Thus, I really am not sure how to present information to friends who don't have that mindset. I think I can be helpful with tips if they do decide to breastfeed...I just don't know how to encourage them to decide to breastfeed.

Sorry if this isn't making sense!

[Marisa6826]

www.kellymom.com is a good one.

But coming from someone that wanted to breastfeed and wasn't successful, please, please, please don't be hard in pushing this information on them. With all the raging hormones and sleep deprivation, the last thing I wanted was somebody trying to "help" encourage me to do something that I knew wasn't working for me.

You can offer encouragement through your own experiences, but please respect their decisions if they choose not to follow in your footsteps.

I would tell them, look, I know that you're on the fence, but I had a really wonderful time BF my kids. I'd be happy to come over and help you out with suggestions when the time comes. Then leave it at that. You'll have put the ball in their court.

You can't do much more than that without imposing on them.

L- Please know that I'm giving this advice with good intentions.

hugs

-m

[lizajane]

like marisa said- i always tell folks how great it was for me, about the benefits i enjoyed, about the convienience and cost savings, and about how much easier it will get (even though it is VERY hard at first). and then if they quit, i drop it immediately.

[murpheyblue]

Another good one for the pros of BF is: http://promom.org/101/index.html

[crayonblue]

Thanks Marisa. This is what I am concerned about- coming across as condemning if they choose not to breastfeed. Not how I feel at all, but I think any advice about nursing could easily be perceived as such unless I am very careful.

Would it be ok to send these friends the links to kellymom.com? These are friends I see quite often but we also quick email sometimes. I could then add that this is great info if they are thinking of breastfeeding and also that I would be happy to come over once their baby is born and help/listen if they need another mom to talk to who has breastfed.

[Marisa6826]

L-

I think it would be acceptable, since it's not an exclusive BF site but also one on sleep issues, KWIM?

Maybe bring it up in conversation first, not just blindly send it?

EVERY new mom is full of sleep questions, the BF can just kind of come along for the ride.

Good luck

-m

[Rachels]

The promom site is EXCELLENT!

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02


"When you know better, you do better."
Maya Angelou

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif Two years and counting!

[vsc1_wa]

I highly recommend the La Leche League (www.lalecheleague.org)- check out esp. the tab on "Breastfeeding Info." I found my local chapter to be enormously helpful in the early days and continue to attend montly meetings. For an organization that is more "traditional", check out the American Academy of Pediatrics and in particular their Breastfeeding Guide (http://www.aap.org/family/brstguid.htm). Nursing is not really talked about in our culture and I think it's great that you want to help your friends out!

[hez]

When we just did a New Mom's class at work, below are the sites & books I provided. I think almost all the moms were already planning to BF, so my idea was to give them a resource list to consult. If they're anything like me these sites will get visited *after* the babies are here :) Some of these sites you already got from others, but I'm just cutting & pasting from the list I handed out. Oh-- and I told our new moms I had a great bulletin board resource, but they had to see me personally for the link (to here!).

Maybe one or two of the sites would be worth supplying to your friends, then save the rest for questions later?

Internet Resources on Nursing:
http://www.kellymom.com -- Her breastfeeding section is pretty darn complete with lots and lots of references.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pumpmoms/ -- GREAT resource if you're considering any kind of pumping (occasional to full-time). It's all moms answering questions for other moms.

http://neonatal.ttuhsc.edu/lact/html/medications_forums.html -- Dr. Thomas Hale's site giving info on understanding what medications pass through to breastmilk, and what medications might affect milk supply or taste, or whatever. He has a couple books out, and the forums are nicely organized by type of drug.

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/about/major/nhanes/growthcharts/clinical_charts.htm -- Growth charts. If you have a decent scale at home, this helps relieve any worries about where your little one is on the the growth chart in between well baby appointments. It has the added benefit that if your child seems to be tracking along a specific curve, you can see about where they'll be for weight/height at the same time the next next year so you can buy clothes on sale/clearance in the right size at the end of the season :)

http://www.medela.com/ -- Major manufacturer of electric breast pumps, both hospital-grade and personal. Excellent source of information for their products and also has breastfeeding information in general.

http://www.ilca.org - Has a link to help you find a lactation consultant in your area.

http://www.lalecheleague.org - Decent search to find answers to questions. Decent pictures of good latches, if I remember right from trying to troubleshoot.

http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en/ - Links on this page to the World Health Organization's recos on infant nutrition

http://breastfeeding.com/ and its message boards: http://www.breastfeeding.com/cgi-bin/Ultimate.cgi

http://www.drjaygordon.com/ -- I've seen a lot of moms recommend this site for breastfeeding answers.

Books on Nursing:
"Nursing Mother, Working Mother" (great book!)
"New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding" (AAP -- got it free from the pediatrician at our interview, so-so book)
"So That's What They're For" (Janet Tamaro)
"The Nursing Mother's Companion" (Kathleen Huggins)
"Ultimate Book of Breastfeeding Answers" (Dr. Jack Newman)

Mixed reviews from other nursing moms:
"The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" (La Leche League)

[sntm]

Awesome list. I have most of these bookmarked.

I found the book Dr. Mom's Guide to Breastfeeding by Marianne Neifert to be really inspiring. Her tales of handexpressing in the bathroom during her pediatrics residency were really motivating to me as a doc. It's great in terms of facts and easy to read.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 15 months and counting

[hez]

Thanks! I think I got leads on at least half the sites from posts here. I'm going to add your book to my list for the next time we do a New Mom's class (might be soon-- we seem to be having a minor baby-boom around here!).

[crayonblue]

What is the New Mom's class? That sounds wonderful! I had so many questions after Lauren was born.

[hez]

We had some recent first time moms give a 'New Moms' class to some expecting first time moms this fall. As I said, we seem to be having a baby boom in my area of our company, and who better to ask lots of 'dumb' first time mom questions of than moms who've just been through it themselves... Our company used to offer a prenatal class twice a year, but discontinued it due to 'lack of interest'. Turns out there was plenty of interest, so we just did it ourselves. The nicest part is the networking. One of our newest moms delivered recently and called me at home with questions-- knowing that I was willing to help however I could, and it was safe to ask.

If I can get the other moms to send me the files they created, I'd be willing to share the info we used if you're interested. A lot of the time spent was on Q&A-- more sharing how we each chose to approach things so the moms knew the range of 'normal'. That part won't have any handouts, unfortunately.

[crayonblue]

I would love any information you might have! I really have a heart for new moms who don't have family in the area and don't know who to turn to. My mom is a thousand miles away and I felt so lost when Lauren was born. I would love to offer help in this way. If you get the files, please email me through the boards! Thanks!

[missmelis01]

I run a web log dedicated solely to breastfeeding, and I have links to the AAP and CDC and their recommendations for BF. I also have a link to video clips of latching on and holds to make BF easier.

http://baby.typepad.com/

Hope this helps!
-Melissa