Encouragement that she is doing a great job, that initial difficulties are normal and can normally be overcome with the help of a bf counsellor. Having the helpline numbers ready.
Familiarity with the basic facts, e.g.
- Milk doesn't come in for several days. This is OK and the baby will be fine on colostrum if he/she gets plenty of chance to suckle
- There's a basic supply and demand equation. If the baby suckles often then supply will increase. If you start topping up with formula then supply will decrease
- Babies do often feed all the time in the early weeks, or what feels like all the time. They have to build up your supply from nothing to enough to sustain them for six months
- It can be emotionally draining, and 5-8 weeks is often the most difficult time
- Some pain is normal at the start of a feed but if it lasts throughout the feed or nipples are getting sore it's worth getting the latch checked by a professional
Encourage to focus on one feed at a time or one day at a time at the difficult times.
Encourage never to make a decision to quit at night -- rethink in the light of the next day.
Remember that the key issues are whether the baby is happy, alert, gaining weight (even if slower than the HV wants), and has plenty of wet and dirty diapers. If those things are all in place then she is doing a great job and should be reassured of that. If any of them looks like a problem then one of the helplines should be able to give advice.