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24 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • October 2022 Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt WRITTEN BY EMILY FREEHLING Personalized Support Can be the Key to Successful Breastfeeding Breastfeeding offers a wide array of benefits to both babies and mothers. There are numer- ous health advantages associated with breast- feeding. These include physical, nutritional and emotional benefits for the wellbeing of both mother and baby. From proven protec- tion and lower risks against common child- hood infections to the lower risk of certain diseases for both mother and baby. This seemingly simple practice doesn't always come easily, but the right support can empower a mother to gain confidence and find success with nursing. A Mother's Perspective Doula Services provides physical, emotional and educational support to women before, during and after birth to make sure mom and baby aren't just surviving this excit- ing transition, but thriving and building lasting bonds and memories. Built into the work that A Mother's Perspective doulas do with new mothers is education and support for breastfeeding. Danielle Elhabbal, a birth and postpartum doula with A Mother's Perspective, knows firsthand how important strong early support can be to breastfeeding success. Twenty-five years ago, when Elhabbal had the first of her nine chil- dren, breastfeeding wasn't a common practice in her family, and "in fact they were discouraging me from breastfeeding. I really knew nothing about it," she says. It was the support and encouragement of her husband and family friends that gave her the confidence to try to breastfeed her first- born—although she admits to secretly buying bottles out of fear she wouldn't succeed. "I did have some struggles there in the beginning," she recalls, "But my husband encouraged me, I powered through and I really gained confidence as a woman and a mother." To know that your body is both amazing and empowering. Since then, Elhabbal has logged 20 years of breastfeeding among her nine children—at times nursing multiple children. She considers nursing to be a gift that she wants to help more women experience and enjoy with their own infants. Danielle Elhabbal, birth and postpartum doula. Danielle Elhabbal,