https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 08:40:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1235181 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 04:29:21 +0000 BabyMats 1235181@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cmomma17: I agree. I am contemplating going part time at work until I'm done BFing </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1235177 Fri, 22 Nov 2013 04:13:35 +0000 Sapphiresun 1235177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not really sure. We have year long maternity leave, free access to a lactation consultant for the first six weeks, and free classes before birth. The consultant for my area contacted me within 24 hours of arriving home from the hospital to set up a time to meet either at her office or my residence. While I was in the hospital, it was put on a large sign that I intended to exclusively breastfeed so to avoid pacifiers or supplementing with formula, and all staff were very supportive. </p> <p>However, I just looked at our census and we've still only achieved a rate of 23% of mothers exclusively breastfeeding until 6 months and 60% making it to 6 weeks. I'd really like to see the statistics for ANY breast feeding though, since I think giving no credit to those that BF but supplement is kind of a false number.</p> <p>The only thing I can think of is maybe have pumps purchase/rental covered by medical insurance to the whole population? I believe in special circumstances you can get them for free by prescription, but it's not standard here. I bought a cheapie manual because I wanted to be able to pump and leave a bottle once in a while and it was not very efficient and made my hand cramp up, so I ended up buying a nicer electric even though I really don't use it that often, and it was a bit of an expense. But kind of a "nice to have" thing, rather than a necessity I suppose. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212113 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:42:04 +0000 lawbee11 1212113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: Agreed. The books I read/classes I took/research I did on breastfeeding beforehand were invaluable when it actually came time to breastfeed. I know we wouldn't have been as successful without those things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212078 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:19:30 +0000 cmomma17 1212078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lot's of great ideas here! </p> <p>From my personal experience, I would implement a change for working moms. Classes on pumping, workplace education (for co workers and supervisors), flexible work schedules, clear policies about pumping at work, breastfeeding support groups outside of office hours, more mothers rooms in workplaces, nursing friendly professional clothes, counseling for breastfeeding moms returning to work, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212068 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:16:27 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1212068@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Concur with needing (paid) maternity leave + guaranteed time for pumping when you return! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212053 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:10:34 +0000 MoonMoon 1212053@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely agree with longer/better maternity leave-so shameful the U.S. doesn't guarantee ANY. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212049 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 19:04:18 +0000 MamaMoose 1212049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think education BEFORE the baby is born is most important and it needs to center around what's normal so new moms know what to expect. I freaked out that my colostrum couldn't possibly be enough for my LO until my LC informed me that her stomach was the size of a marble. I also think a lot of women have a hard time understanding the supply and demand system. These things are much easier to grasp in a prenatal class than when your post partum hormones are raging and you have a screaming baby on your boob 24/7. Perhaps OBs should be doing more education? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212036 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:54:26 +0000 singingbee 1212036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: that's great!!! Some hospitals here don't have a lc that visits or does free visits. I don't know what I would have done without her help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212035 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:52:46 +0000 Kemma 1212035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: yes! DH and I took an eight week childbirth education class and we hardly got any info on the specifics of bf'ing!</p> <p>@Jennimac: in NZ your midwife is legally required to visit Mum and baby within 24 hours of serving home after birth. My midwife had to reassure me that my milk had come in because I didn't have any engorgment or leaky boobs like all the books said I should!</p> <p>@Purpledaisy: I have major respect for women who go back to work so early, I was a complete mess for a good three months (and still struggling with bf'ing!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212025 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:40:28 +0000 Purpledaisy 1212025@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Longer maternity leave! So many of us only get 6-8 weeks off. If moms had more time to establish breastfeeding I think more would be successful going back to work and pumping and keeping up their supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212022 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:38:04 +0000 singingbee 1212022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I love these ideas, but I would send someone home that first night so that way if someone's milk came in that night, someone is there to help with it. That's when I had my breakdown and would have lost it if we didn't meet with our lc that next day. And send them home with a scale so they can see if their LO is gaining weight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212019 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:34:45 +0000 shopaholic 1212019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: Great idea!</p> <p>Free Mommy Breast-feeding clinics/groups that educate about: overactive letdown, growth spurts &amp; cluster-feeding, and milk supply changes. I hear so many women who quit BFing because they didn't understand these things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/improving-breastfeeding-rates#post-1212007 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 18:27:31 +0000 Kemma 1212007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you could do one thing or put in place one initiative to improve breastfeeding rates in your country, what would it be?</p> <p>My initiative would be sending an IBCLC or "feeding" specialist to see every new mother / parent in their home at 1-2 weeks post partum. </p>