You’ve made the decision—you’re going to breastfeed. But now what?

Glam talked with Andi Silverman, author of Mama Knows Breast, A Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding to get some advice. Here’s what she had to say:

1. As the author of a book subtitled A Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding, what’s the single most important piece of advice an expectant mom needs to be armed with for success?

Get help! Before our first son was born, everyone recommended that I have someone help out around the house, but I resisted. I figured that this parenting thing couldn’t be all that hard. Boy, was I wrong. Over time, I realized that it wasn’t so bad to have a part-time babysitter. So now, I’m a big advocate of lining up a support team of family, friends, and hired help if you can afford it. There’s no reason to struggle through all of this alone. Things are definitely easier if you have extra hands.

As for breastfeeding, get the telephone number of a lactation consultant before the baby is born. That way, if you need help, you won’t have to scramble to get a recommendation. Also, be aware that newborns eat around the clock and sometimes need to be woken up to eat if they are extremely sleepy. This is important to nourish the baby and to establish milk supply.

2. Why did your book need to be written? What makes breastfeeding so challenging?

I decided to write Mama Knows Breast when I realized how common it is for moms to feel overwhelmed by breastfeeding. Our babies come out hard-wired to breastfeed. But we actually have to learn what to do. With our first son, I certainly had a moment when I thought to myself, “I have no idea what I’m doing. I know more about my car seat, stroller and crib than I do about how to feed this baby!”

Fortunately, I got advice from lactation consultants to help me over certain hurdles. I also found some really useful breastfeeding books. But I soon realized that there was space for one more book– a book that took a slightly different approach to breastfeeding.

So I set out to write the book that I wanted to read—a well-illustrated handbook that gives moms practical information in a light-hearted, frank, and irreverent manner. Mama Knows Breast has everything from basic advice on how to hold your baby, to lifestyle tips on where you can comfortably breastfeed in public. The book also reassures moms that the decision whether or not to breastfeed is a highly personal matter.

3. Breastfeeding is the healthiest choice for baby – even the formula companies support this claim – but what about Mom? What are the health benefits for her?

Breast milk really is the gold standard for feeding babies. It’s full of antibodies and nutrients. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding (that means no formula, water, juice, or solids) until a baby is 6 months old, and then breastfeeding (in addition to solids) until at least 12 months.

As for moms, breastfeeding has clear health benefits. After your baby is born, breastfeeding increases the uterine contractions that help your body return to its pre-pregnancy state. And over time, breastfeeding helps you lose weight because it burns calories. Research also shows that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of Type II diabetes, ovarian and breast cancers, and possibly osteoporosis. There’s new research all the time showing the benefits of breastfeeding to both babes and moms.

4. Using ones breasts for their biologically intended function sure changes things for the husband/breast relationship, doesn’t it?

Most of us spend our entire pre-baby lives thinking about our breasts as sexual objects. Then all of a sudden, we discover that our boobs have an actual function to serve. So for dads, yes, this shift can be a bit of an adjustment too.

But here’s the plus side for some folks—breastfeeding makes your boobs much, much bigger! And despite (or perhaps because of) the possible squirt of milk during sex, most guys probably won’t mind sharing all that much.

5. Nursing in public – give us some tips!

The number one key to breastfeeding in public is confidence. If your baby is hungry, she needs to eat! It doesn’t matter where she is. So find a quiet place where you’ll be comfortable sitting for 15 minutes or so. And don’t be shy. Once your baby is latched on, and happily eating, she’ll feel better and so will you. Ignore everyone else around you.

6. How about gear? What should a mom who plans to nurse her baby add to her registry?

The best thing you can to do before the baby is born is to learn a little bit about breastfeeding. Read a book, take a class or watch another mom breastfeed. You really don’t need to buy a lot– just a few nursing bras and maybe a breast pump. There are all sorts of nursing covers, nursing pillows and even nursing tops on the market. But you don’t necessarily need these. You can improvise with items you already own.

7. Does our culture need to do a better job of supporting nursing moms? What can individual women do to help one another?

Moms get a lot of information about the benefits of breastfeeding, but then they face roadblocks in establishing and maintaining the breastfeeding relationship. Sometimes doctors and nurses don’t know enough about breastfeeding to give moms good advice; sometimes well-meaning friends and family members can complicate a situation. Also, many moms struggle with breastfeeding when they return to work. Maternity leaves are, sadly, incredibly short. And not all workplaces are accommodating for moms who want to take time to pump breast milk during the day.

So what can moms do to help each other? Share their stories with each other; pass along the telephone numbers of lactation consultants; log onto websites (like mamaknowsbreast.com) to learn about breastfeeding; and even consider working with advocacy groups that are promoting family friendly workplace policies.