Risk of Not Breastfeeding

If you are like most women, then you are well aware of the BENEFITS associated with breastfeeding. Here are just a few:

Decrease risk of SIDS

Decrease risk of childhood obesity

Allergy prevention

Not to mention, there is absolutely nothing in the world, that anyone can manufacture, that can ever be as easily digestible and homogenous to your baby’s digestive system as human breastmilk. But did you know that by not breastfeeding you and your baby are at a higher risk of developing certain diseases?

Risks for your baby:

Ear infections 

Gastroenteritis 

Pneumonia 

Atopic Dermatitis 

Childhood cancer 

Risk for you :

Menopausal breast cancer 

Ovarian cancer 

Postpartum depression 

On a larger scale, Author of The Politics of Breastfeeding, Gabrielle Palmer credits women for producing "the most ecological food product in the world." Breastmilk is a natural, renewable resource! According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, $3.6 BILLION would be saved if we increased the number of breastfeeding women 10%. So see, the benefits of breastfeeding don’t stop at your front door. Breastfeeding can have a major positive economic effect nationwide.

Key points:

Breastfeeding is good for baby, mommy, and our economy 

American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for 1 year (only breastmilk for the first 6 months)

Infant feeding

It’s important to understand that newborns feed frequently.  It may be every 1-2 hours, or in 45 minute time spans.  Understand early hunger cues and it will be easier to feed baby. 

Early hunger cues:

¨ Smacking or licking lips

¨ Opening and closing mouth

¨ Sucking on tongue, lips, hands, etc

¨ Rooting (turning head to the side searching for nipple)

Late hunger cues:

¨ Moving head frantically from side to side

¨ Fussing and breathing fast

¨ Crying

Since the proteins in breastmilk are small, it is a lot easier to digest.  A breastfed baby will feed more often than a formula fed baby. Also, a newborn’s stomach is very small. At this time you will be producing about 30 mL of colostrum per day; more than enough to feed your baby.  3-5 days after birth, your milk will increase in volume.   Since your baby has retained fluid at birth water is not necessary.   Even after baby has lost the extra fluid, your breastmilk is designed to hydrate your baby. Your foremilk is thinner and will quench his thirst. The hindmilk is denser and calorie rich providing baby all the nutrients he needs for the first 6 months of life.   

Also, for the first 6 weeks resist the urge to use bottles or pacifiers.  This is especially important for mothers that want to exclusively breastfeed. By using a pacifier, you are satisfying your babies sucking need and decreasing the stimulation to your nipples needed to increase milk volume.  The use of bottles will create a preference; not confusion.  Babies are not confused.  It’s much easier to get milk out of a bottle. He has to work harder to massage milk from the breast and may begin to prefer the bottle over your breast. At about 6 weeks, a good breastfeeding regimen should be established, and introducing any of these items at this point should not interfere with breastfeeding.

The Importance of Skin-to-Skin

Skin-to-skin, also called kangaroo care, is a crucial first step in creating a bond between you and your baby that will promote the release of oxytocin and promote let-down.  Skin to skin regulates the baby’s temperature, blood sugar, breathing, heart rate, and calms a fussy baby.  Immediately following birth place baby on your bare chest between y our breast. Baby will lay there for a while and begin to familiarize himself with the new surroundings. It may take some time (1-2 hours), but a newborn can actually find, crawl to, latch, and breastfeed on their own! All around the world, women are experiencing the breast crawl phenomenon.  Here’s a link.  Discuss your wishes with your healthcare provider.   A good way to begin the conversation is by developing a birth plan.  A birth plan outlines your wishes for your birth experience.  Please visit our website for a printable birth plan worksheet.  

Key points:

¨ Skin-to-skin helps baby acclimate themselves with their new world

¨ Promotes release of “feel good” lactation hormones

¨ Skin-to-skin immediately after birth and as often as possible

¨ Create and discuss your birth plan with healthcare provider

You're a Bad Mom!

My breastfeeding journey isn't unlike that of many other women. I had some good days, some triumphs, disappointments and regrets. In retrospect, I realize I didn't do my due diligence as an expecting mother. I knew I WANTED to breastfeed and that was it. I thought it was something that would come automatically. After all isn't breastfeeding natural? Boy was I in for a surprise. Although I breastfed my son until he was about 9 months; I weaned after returning to work and starting nursing school; I was unable to produce enough milk to exclusively breastfeed. Why you may ask? I didn't understand supply and demand. What’s worse, women who for whatever reason, don’t breastfeed exclusively face an ever growing stigma. They feel like bad mothers.

This weekend during the premiere of BREASTMILK, we were introduced to women from various social economic backgrounds and cultures that faced a similar dilemma. Women that felt scrutinized and unsupported at work, at home, and in public. Think about it for a moment:

If you were returning to work, would you be able to pump every 2-3 hours, in a stress free, clean room (cannot be a bathroom)?

At the hospital, did your nurses encourage formula?

Did you leave the hospital with a gift bag filled with formula?

Do you give women who breastfeed in public strange looks?

Do you have a support system?

Women in our society have so many options and we should support each other’s decisions. We don’t know what difficulties someone is facing until we walk in their shoes. My lactation instructor Gini Baker, would always say “You did the best you could, with what you knew”. This is a part of the reason I have chosen to work with pregnant women. To pass on the information I’ve learned on my own journey.Breastmilk is BEST. Nothing manufactured can compare to it. I am an avid supporter of doing so exclusively. There are so many resources available to help you on your journey. Seek the help of a IBCLC or CLC. La Leche League has weekly free meetings. If you’re having difficulty, don’t quit and don’t face it alone. Find a group of supporters; after all, they don’t say it takes a “Village” for nothing!

Breasfeeding Week is August 1-7.

Nicole Vascianna Momma of 1, RN, CLC (certified lactation counselor), Birth Doula, and founder of The Village Maternity Services.

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