Recently I took a writing class as part of my preparation to go back to school and this is an essay I wrote for it that I wanted to share. I'm very passionate about supporting mother's who chose to breastfeed, but understand that not everyone can. I hope this article empowers mothers in whatever their choice is.
Confident Nurturers
A 2014 Lansinoh study revealed that in the United States, 93% of women believe that breastfeeding is best for their baby. However, Dr. Claire McCarthy shares that “. . . only a third of the mothers who plan on exclusively breastfeeding for three months or more actually do it” (“The top four reasons moms stop breastfeeding--and what we can do about them,” Dr. Claire McCarthy). While much has been done to educate women about the benefits of breastfeeding, little is done to prepare a new mother for the physical toll it will take on her body the first six weeks postpartum. Starting to breastfeed is like beginning a new workout program; soreness and discomfort should be expected. As the body adjusts, the pain will lessen and the benefits experienced will increase. A mother will have greater success with breastfeeding when she knows what to expect the first six weeks, has the support of the hospital and staff, and is surrounded by a community of successful breastfeeding mothers.
Having unrealistic expectations of early breastfeeding sessions will leave new moms feeling like failures when things do not go as planned. Experiencing intense cramping and sore nipples when she is told, “If your latch is correct, you shouldn’t have pain,” is confusing and discouraging. She may feel like she is doing something wrong. However, after the first six weeks of breastfeeding, everything changes. Just like any new physical endeavor, the initial weeks of breastfeeding are the most rigorous and taxing, but if endured, the results are rewarding and long-lasting.
The support of the hospital and staff is crucial to breastfeeding success. While hospitals claim to support breastfeeding, in the United States 20% of all newborns are given formula at the recommendation of a nurse or pediatrician within the first 48 hours of life (Dr. Jennifer Thomas, “Dr. Jen's Guide to Breastfeeding”). When a bottle is introduced before milk supply and nursing habits have been established, milk supply can be stunted and infants can experience nipple-confusion, making it more difficult to learn to breastfeed. Few first-time mothers argue when a nurse or pediatrician recommends giving their newborn a bottle of formula because the baby has lost “too much” weight. Breastmilk does not come in until 2-4 days after delivery. There is no need to supplement with formula before the baby is in need of nourishment beyond colostrum. Being armed with this knowledge can help new mothers ask questions or request a lactation consultant instead of blindly accept recommendations made by a hospital more fearful of lawsuits than the success of a new mother breastfeeding her baby.
Hospitals also support breastfeeding mothers by waiting to do many newborn screenings and tests. “A full-term healthy newborn's instinct to breastfeed peaks about 20 to 30 minutes after birth . . . In the first hour, babies are in a quiet, alert state, and have an innate ability to latch on and suckle effectively. Research has shown that when most newborn infants are placed immediately on the abdomen of their mothers, they will find her breast and initiate suckling in less than 50 minutes. . . .” (Righard and Alade 1990; Widstrom et al. 1990; Wang and Wu 1994). Encouraging mothers to initiate breastfeeding after delivery instead of immediately conducting a battery of evaluations, gives mothers greater chances for breastfeeding success.
Giving a breastfeeding mother a formula-filled diaper bag is another way to undermine her confidence. Formula companies are eager for new mothers to take free samples of their product home. Consider the effect this “free gift” has on the resolve of a new mother to exclusively breastfeed. Who is more likely to turn to formula: a woman who has decided to breastfeed and has no bottles or formula in her house or a woman who has several free samples sitting in her pantry just in case? If you are on a diet, do you stock your pantry with your favorite junk food just in case? Of course not! Having temptation in the house is inviting failure. Recognizing this trend, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended in its 2012 policy that hospitals discontinue the practice of sending breastfeeding mothers home from the hospital with formula samples (“Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk,” Pediatrics).
Over and over, articles and studies show that what women need most to be successful with breastfeeding is: Support. Each mother needs access to a lactation consultant who can help catch the physical problems that can make nursing difficult. Perhaps even more important, each new mother needs peers who are successfully breastfeeding. Finding a community of support will help answer a new mom’s questions, reinforce her resolve to breastfeed, and provide opportunities to support other breastfeeding moms. Only in such a sisterhood will mothers regain the confidence that their bodies, able to produce the miracle of a baby, are fully capable of continuing to provide nourishment through breastfeeding.
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