Why Prepare For Breastfeeding During Pregnancy?
According to the CDC Breastfeeding Report Card, on average, about 83% of women in the United States initiate breastfeeding at birth yet that number quickly drops to just about 25% of women exclusively breastfeeding at 6 months postpartum. This is odd because the recommendation from both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization is for babies to breastfeed exclusively for at least 6 months and ideally for 1-2 years (even longer if desired). It’s also odd because most moms who plan to breastfeed state goals to do so for 6 months… 1 year… 2 years… and beyond.
Pregnant women spend hundreds (even thousands) of dollars preparing for the birth of their dreams, but the majority of women spend little to no money preparing for the major lifestyle changes that come once baby once the birth is over and their baby is here.
So this leads to a few questions…
How can something that is supposedly so natural (breastfeeding one’s baby) end up being so difficult and disappointing for so many women?
What can women do to truly defy the odds and meet their breastfeeding goals?
According to research:
80% of mothers who stop breastfeeding by 6 weeks report that they didn’t want to stop. Common reasons cited were:
feeding difficulties
lack of adequate support
difficulties with lactation
infant nutrition and weight
illness or need to take medicine
the effort associated with pumping milk
Additionally, research shows that high quality prenatal breastfeeding education leads to better outcomes.
So why an Online Prenatal Breastfeeding Course?
Knowing about this research and seeing mom after mom struggle in the early days of breastfeeding postpartum lit a fire in me to find a way to offer high quality prenatal breastfeeding education at an affordable price. There is a steep learning curve with breastfeeding especially for women who know absolutely nothing about breastfeeding going into their birth. Clients say to me again and again… “If only I had known about ___ before giving birth. I am exhausted and having such a hard time absorbing any new information.” I notice that moms who take my in-person prenatal breastfeeding course appear more relaxed and confident postpartum and are better able to handle any obstacles that do arise. Some moms who attend my in-person class go on to have a smooth breastfeeding journey without needing postpartum lactation support. And then there are the moms who had wanted to attend my in-person class but had not been able to due to being on bedrest or because they had schedule conflicts.
I want to make it accessible for anyone with an internet connection to take a high quality prenatal breastfeeding course so that each and every mother with a desire to breastfeed could have the best chance to meet her breastfeeding goals. I do not want money to be a barrier, which is why this course is also available for partial and full scholarship based on need.
Instead of feeling like this journey is one of success or failure (black and white), I want moms to see this journey as one with an infinite number of possibilities and to see themselves at the center of the decision making process... making choices from the heart from a place of self-love and self-worth. Does this mean that exclusive breastfeeding is the right choice for every mom and every baby? Definitely not. But it is the right choice for many, and I do not believe that the lack of accurate information or lack of support should be a reason for any mother to feel like she “failed” at the first goal she set for herself as a mother.
"My daughter is 2 months old, and I have been exclusively breastfeeding since her birth!!! My private prenatal class with Marissa really helped me, and put me and my baby on the track to success! So far it has been going great, and I have had an easy time with it. Only hiccup has been a dairy allergy on her end but there are so many great substitutions now for dairy for me!"
— AB
So why prepare for breastfeeding during pregnancy?
Prepare so that you are squarely in the driver's seat during your breastfeeding journey -- making decisions that are proactive, intentional, and in line with your personal breastfeeding goals.
Prepare because although breastfeeding is natural, it often does not come together easily.
Prepare so that you can take a preventative approach in order to avoid many of the common breastfeeding pitfalls that lead so many moms to wean much earlier than they had planned.
So many hours went into the creation of this online prenatal breastfeeding course, and I am so excited to share it with you!
