In the wake of universal support and promotion of breastfeeding, I would like to pay a little attention to those things that some consider to be negative aspects of breastfeeding. What problems await a nursing mom, what will she have to face and what to resist?
Are there any downsides to breastfeeding?
Although both doctors and society in general are very positive about the breastfeeding system, there are still quite a lot of mothers who feed their babies with artificial formula. And sometimes they try very hard to resist the many ideas of natural motherhood:
- prolonged breastfeeding;
- feeding the baby on demand;
- joint sleep.
The loss of breast milk for a child can be safely equated to a biological disaster, since the enormous benefits that breastfeeding brings to an infant have been repeatedly proven. This is both a stronger immunity, and an impetus in intellectual development, and the establishment of a close emotional bond between mother and baby.
But for mothers, and those who practice artificial feeding, and those who prefer natural feeding, it is important to understand one thing: breastfeeding is not a panacea, not an ideal solution to all questions and problems. It also has its own difficulties, its disadvantages and disadvantages.
Before giving birth, you need to psychologically prepare for breastfeeding.
The main condition for successful breastfeeding is the mother's desire to breastfeed her baby. And for this process, emotionally and also informationally, it is necessary to prepare even before the birth of a child. Many mothers are convinced that since breastfeeding is a natural process, everything should go like clockwork from the very beginning. Therefore, they refuse to think about what will happen after the child is born. It seems that nature will tell, but in reality this is very far from the truth. Practical experience shows that breastfeeding quite often does not work out on its own, and a woman needs to prepare in advance, collect information, tune in psychologically to be ready for caring for a newborn and breastfeeding.
If earlier it was possible to hope for the transfer of experience in caring for a child from previous generations, now the problem is observed in this aspect, since over the past decades, in many issues of upbringing and GW there have been cardinal changes.
Strong character and the ability to stand your ground are mandatory character traits of a nursing mother
Many modern postulates of breastfeeding find sharp resistance, not only from relatives, but even from doctors, who, it would seem, should be the first to guard natural motherhood.
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A young mother will have to defend her position on many issues. This is on-demand feeding, and in the first six months of the year there is no additional feedings, nothing but mother's milk (when the baby receives only mother's milk without any additional food or drink), the absence of pacifiers, nipples, bottles. In all these, as well as many other issues concerning the child and his upbringing, a nursing mother will hear a lot of advice, sometimes even contradicting each other, from people of the Soviet era who lived during a period of widespread use of artificial mixtures.
And only a tough character will help you overcome all these trials and not succumb to the provocative statements of “sympathizers”. Unfortunately, not everyone can do this, because powerful attacks of relatives aimed from all sides can break even strong resistance.
Breastfeeding can make you feel unwell
Breastfeeding may be accompanied by some symptoms, which are caused by an altered state of the hormonal background of the young mother:
- Drowsiness. It is associated with the effect on the body of the pleasure hormones endorphins. They seek to relax and lull the woman while feeding with her baby;
- Decreased concentration of attention. The reason for this is the high level of the hormone prolactin in the body, which focuses all the attention of a woman on the child;
- Decreased libido. All the same prolactin reduces the production of estrogen in the body, and it is the latter that is responsible for the menstrual cycle and sex drive. Thus, the body seeks to rest and regain its strength after a complex process of procreation;
- Eating problems. Cravings for sweets, constant thirst or nausea are the effects of the hormone oxytocin on the body.
Responsibility and the need to make decisions
At first, young parents find it difficult to assume new roles and realize that they are now responsible for the decisions made and their consequences in relation to their own child. Therefore, moms who seek advice from a breastfeeding consultant often feel that this is enough to get rid of all the problems.
However, no matter what expert you turn to, he will only direct you in the right direction, provide information and tools to solve your problems, and provide the necessary moral support. And then you will have to take the situation into your own hands and resolve it (fight lactostasis, open the chest, etc.).
And if you do not have confidence in success and the desire to fight for breastfeeding, rest assured that it will be so, and no specialist, even the best, will be able to change it.
Anxiety
Anxiety and anxiety constantly accompany nursing mothers. For example, worries that the baby does not have enough milk. They are especially pronounced during periods of lactation crisis, which fall on 3, 5, 7, 12 months of a child's life. In fact, it turns out like this: the child grows, the energy costs of his body increase, as well as the need for food, but the breast does not have time to overnight readjust to the baby's new needs.
Also, mothers often worry about stagnation of milk and the problems that this condition can cause, so they constantly express themselves, which only increases the amount of milk produced, closing a vicious circle. Another fear is painful feeding and the use of nipple pads.
The main factor in the production of breast milk is the mother's confidence in what she is doing, the confidence that the baby is receiving the required amount of milk, as well as the willingness to make maximum efforts to maintain lactation for the period necessary for the baby. This confidence can be gained by observing the baby's stable weight gain, a sufficient number of bowel movements and baby peeing, as well as feeling boundless love for your baby and faith in the forces of nature laid down from within.
Breast milk is the best food a baby can get during the first years of life (see the composition and benefits of breast milk). And, although this period is accompanied by some difficulties, as a reward, the mother receives the knowledge that she made an invaluable contribution to the health of her child, which she can observe throughout his life.
Changing social roles
Before the birth of a child, a woman had to experience various social roles: the role of a woman, a successful employee, and a homemaker. And now the roles of mother and wet nurse have also been added to these roles.
It is very important that during this period the woman does not feel like “food” or “cash cow”, but perceives feeding as a natural process necessary for her baby.
After all, breastfeeding is conceived by nature as a necessary process for the adaptation of a child after birth to a new world, which will provide the baby with comfort, warmth and food. With breastfeeding, the child will feel more calm and confident, and through this interaction the mother will be able to quickly establish contact with the baby, go through the process of psychological addiction, and successfully enter a new role for herself, which is called "motherhood".
Cause of problems with breast shape and figure
Breastfeeding can be the reason why the excess weight gained during pregnancy does not go away after the baby is born. Of course, very often the reason for this may not be breastfeeding, but the fact that the newly-made mother eats uncontrollably for two.
However, the body stores fat during this period in order to provide itself with energy for prolonged breastfeeding. After 6 months of feeding, fat reserves are released for milk production, and excess weight begins to go away even without exercise and dietary restrictions.
Regarding changes in the shape of the breast, then the point is not at all in feeding, but in heredity and pregnancy as such. Indeed, very often mothers who have not fed their baby for a single day still express dissatisfaction with the shape of the breast they received after giving birth.
Much more negative consequences for the female breast have constant pumping, uncontrolled feeding, weight jumps, improper attachment of the baby, breast ligation to curtail breastfeeding (see the article on how to properly end breastfeeding). Cessation of lactation gradually, and not abruptly, just gives the body the necessary time to return the breast to pre-pregnant forms (see the article on how to properly stop lactation).
A certain number of inconveniences
- You need to feed your baby at very different times - both day and night;
- Sleeping with a baby can be uncomfortable for mom and dad;
- Milk tends to leak from the breast;
- In some situations, there is a need for pumping;
- As long as you are breastfeeding, you cannot sleep on your stomach;
- Up to 6 months, it is not advisable to leave the child at home for a long time with grandmothers or other relatives;
- There are a number of restrictions on food (coffee, alcohol (harmful alcohol), fast food). We read an article about what you can eat for nursing mothers;
- Smoking is highly discouraged (harm of smoking).
Staying positive is essential for breastfeeding.
Maintaining a cheerful and positive attitude for a nursing mother is very important, because this condition is transmitted to the baby, and also contributes to the production of enough milk. The more nervous you get, the more feeding and baby problems you will get. And vice versa - a calm, happy mother is the key to a happy baby and successful breastfeeding.
Mom is calm and confident - a lot of milk - a healthy baby, mom doubts and is nervous - less milk - problems with hepatitis B and baby.
Therefore, do not listen to the depressing stories of friends about their failures and difficulties, but rather feel like a part of wildlife, where feeding of young mammals is such a logical and natural process that all doubts are dispelled at the same moment.
