Most women understand the benefits of breastfeeding their infants, but there are physical and emotional roadblocks that can make it a challenge for moms. During the first weeks of a baby’s life it is vital for mom to be able to focus on caring for herself and nursing her infant.
“One of the biggest issues for new moms is exhaustion,” said Kimi Suh, MD, family medicine physician at Loyola University Health System and assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.
“Moms are already sore and tired from being post-partum and it can be exhausting and difficult to feed the baby on demand at all hours.”
Breastfeeding is a learning process for both mom and baby and requires patience and practice. While in the hospital, moms should take advantage of resources such as lactation consultants who are readily available to assist with establishing good breastfeeding practices and offer advice on common problems, such as trouble latching on.
