Personal Infant Feeding Experiences Paragraph 4 P

Please write a Paragraph answering to this discussion below with your opinion. Please include citations and references in alphabetical order in case of another source.

Encouraging a new mother that breastfeeding is both beneficial to her and to her baby can be a hard task, especially to a first time mother who has no information or education on the process of breastfeeding. I have firsthand experience that breastfeeding does not come natural to everyone and takes work and determination. While breastfeeding is the best for both mother and baby, it is not the only way for a mother to provide adequate nutrition to their child. As an RN my approach would be first to listen to the mother and understand her reasons for being reluctant. After listening I would then educate and give information that will help the mother. Based on their age and level of knowledge on the subject I would have a baseline of where to start.

Giving the new mother all the resources available to her such as a lactation consultant, la leche league and other support groups I feel are most beneficial. Mothers who are able to listen and hear about other breastfeeding experiences similar to their own, will give them more hope and determination to stick it out. It also gives them resources of other mothers who are available to help them and answer the questions that they need when the time comes. Myself having been in the same situation, felt clueless and overwhelmed when being handed a pile of literature about the benefits of breastfeeding. It wasn’t until I sat down with a group of women who have experienced the same second thoughts and issues that I had experienced that I realized that it was something that I could in fact do. Assure the mother that she is not alone in her feelings and giving the reassurance that it is possible can increase the likelihood of successful breastfeeding. I would also discuss the other benefits such as the cost, the increased bonding time with the baby and the benefits to the mother herself.

I find that too often when new mothers have questions, they are sent to a website or told to read a book. While this may work in some circumstances, I feel that just listening, understanding and being “there” for emotional support are the best way to create a good outcome for both baby and mother.

There are many circumstances when breastfeeding is just not possible and it is important to also encourage and assure the mother that they are doing what is best for their child no matter if they breastfeed or formula feed. Formula is healthy and great for the baby, just as breast milk. Reassure your patient that they are not failing as long as they continue to provide nutrients to their child if they are using breast milk or formula.

References

Wright, A. I., & Hurst, N. M. (2018). Personal Infant Feeding Experiences of Postpartum Nurses Affect How They Provide Breastfeeding Support. Journal Of Obstetric, Gynecologic, And Neonatal Nursing: JOGNN, 47(3), 342-351. doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2018.02.011