I believe we need opportunities to learn not just how to 'respond after problems arise,' but how to 'support success.'

Up until now, I feel that opportunities to learn about breastfeeding support have tended to lean more toward 'what to do when trouble occurs.'

What to do when there is nipple pain.
What to do when there is a strong feeling of insufficient breast milk.
What to do when there are concerns about the baby's weight gain.

Of course, those are very important.
But isn't what is truly needed, before that, to learn 'how to make breastfeeding go smoothly'?

Breastfeeding support requires a preventive perspective.
How to engage initially, points for observation, how to see the rhythm of the mother and child, necessary explanations, and words that create peace of mind.

Just by having that foundation in place, it is sometimes possible to create a flow that is less prone to trouble.

WHO and UNICEF indicate that to support the success of breastfeeding, early initiation of breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, rooming-in, breastfeeding on demand, and avoiding unnecessary supplementation are important practices. In other words, internationally, emphasis is placed not only on responding after trouble occurs, but also on structuring support so that things go well from the beginning.

If you only respond after a problem has occurred, support will inevitably be reactive.

However, if you know the flow of how things go well in advance, support becomes much gentler and more preventive.
That makes a big difference for the mother, the baby, and the supporter.

Breastfeeding support is not just knowledge for when you are in trouble,
and I think it should be shared more widely as learning for building a foundation for success.

Click here for the MIDWELL Breastfeeding Support Course ↓
https://midwell.site/