Where do you get your breastfeeding information?

The Internet is any extremely useful resource; it is at the tips of our fingers, we have constant access, and above all, it is convenient. It can, however, be overwhelming especially in the early days of mothering a newborn. In these early days you may be wondering, Is my baby gaining enough weight? How much and how often should he nurse? Do I have enough milk? Is his poop supposed to be that color?! It is convenient to take out our phones and have immediate access to Facebook and online forums to voice our concerns.  When posing questions online or simply searching for information we are inundated with many different opinions, resources, scientific evidence, and research studies. It is time consuming to navigate the sea of information on the Internet. As a new mother or even with subsequent children you know how precious time is. You may ask yourself Is this a reliable source? What experience does this person have? Which study is accurate? What information is most important?  

As La Leche League leaders, we are trained to decipher information, recognize reliable sources, and establish which scientific evidence and studies are most beneficial and accurate. We are trained in how to counsel women along their breastfeeding journey. We have extensive training and real life experience under our belts, or in this case, bras! We are very much involved with breastfeeding advocacy in the community and we have access to resources in the community to refer mothers in cases beyond our scope of practice. Our goal is not to give you advice and the mantra of “what worked for me, will work for you” does not apply. Our goal is to educate, inform, support, encourage and promote a healthy breastfeeding relationship for mother and child. We strive to assist women in finding a solution that works best for them and their family by providing factual based evidence and suggestions that have worked for most mothers as well as current best practice. Just because a technique worked for one person does not mean that it will work for another, nor is it the option that may be best suited for you and your child.

While the internet can be a useful resource it can also be a stressor and a hindrance on your breastfeeding journey. I encourage all mothers to be cognizant of where you obtain your information and really consider, Do I trust the person that is giving me advice? Do they have my best interest in mind? Is this what is best for me and my child? Is this a reliable and factual source? Does this person have the expertise and training to determine my needs and find a solution?

This blog post was originally posted at LLLofLehighValley.blogspot.com and has been republished with permission.

Jennifer Abdul-Rahman is a Registered Nurse on weekends and a stay at home mom to her two boys during the week. She became an advocate for breastfeeding mothers after discovering the joys, difficulties, and obstacles of breastfeeding her own two sons. She is a La Leche League leader for Lehigh County and strives to meet mothers on their breastfeeding journey and help them reach their goals.