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Midwife, Doula or Doctor?

5. Set up breastfeeding support

If you're planning to nurse your baby, Dahl recommends finding out as much as you can about breastfeeding before you deliver. Many women get through labor and delivery just fine, only to be overwhelmed by the difficulty of breastfeeding. Before you give birth, talk to a lactation consultant, join a breastfeeding support group and even attend one of their meetings where you can watch women nurse.

La Leche League (www.lllc.ca) is a great breastfeeding resource. Many hospitals offer daily breastfeeding clinics for new moms, so find out ahead of time when and where they take place so you're not scrambling post-delivery. Most of all, have a breastfeeding support person lined up (whether it's a doula, nurse or lactation consultant) to make sure you get the best start possible.

Meet our expert:

Gail J. Dahl is a childbirth researcher and educator, an advocate for safe and gentle childbirth and the national bestselling author of Pregnancy & Childbirth Secrets (Innovative Publishing, 2007). She has received the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, the Woman of Vision Award and the Great Women of the 21st Century Award for her work in women's health and education. Nominated for Community Advocate: Organization and Signature Award for exceptional achievements.  http://web.mac.com/pregnancysecrets