1. Women who seek help have a higher success rate. "Think of ways to ensure success before you even give birth,". Talk with friends who had a good nursing experience, ask Baby's pediatrician for a lactation consultant's number, or attend a nursing support group meeting.
2. Use hospital resources. Moms learned everything she could about breastfeeding before left the hospital. Ask if there's a nursing class or a lactation consultant on staff. Push the nurse-call button each time you're ready to feed the baby, and ask a nurse to spot you and offer advice.
3. Prepare. At home, you'll want to drop everything to feed the baby the moment she cries for you. Suggest taking care of yourself first. "Get a glass of water and a book or magazine to read." And, because breastfeeding can take a while, advise to pee first!
4. Try a warm compress if your breasts are engorged or you have blocked ducts. A heating pad or a warm, wet washcloth works, but a flax pillow (often sold with natural beauty products) is even better. Heat it in the microwave, and conform it to your breast.
5. Heat helps the milk flow, but if your breasts are sore after nursing, try a cold pack. A bag of frozen peas worked really well for you.
6. If you want Baby to eventually take a bottle, introduce it after breastfeeding is established but before the 3-month mark. Many experts say 6 to 8 weeks is good, some moms shared they started each of their kids on one bottle a day at 3 weeks.
