I ADORE breastfeeding! Probably my one of my very favorite things to do. I am consistently surprised by the amount of people who claim to have a lack in milk supply. When I delivered my first baby, 16 1/2 years ago, I had many friends who were breastfeeding. I honestly do not remember having regular discussion with friends who struggled with milk supply. Nor did I ever feel even concerned that I wouldn’t have enough breast milk. Quite the opposite! All I knew is that’s what breasts were for after you deliver……To feed your baby and produce milk. But NOW…….I have clients who quite often complain of lack of milk production OR even better have a HUGE fear that they won’t have enough.
I have 2 theories on why breast milk production can be low. Of course, you have the usual issues of poor latch on or weak suck or all of the other many reasons for low milk supply. But…..I have my own opinions and beliefs as to why women struggle with milk supply. Not that the other reasons aren’t valid as well but I think just considering my opinions might help a women who can’t seem to get produce enough milk.
First theory……That the nutrition of the mother inherently effects milk supply. We currently live in a world where we are undernourished and over fed. Obesity is at an all time high. Even though we may look at a women who is overweight and believe that she should be able to build volumes of breast milk, studies have shown that obesity can be a factor for low milk supply. Read more about it below.
This is awesome Rachel! I wish I had known you when I was trying to breast feed my little ones. The leche league and I were joined at the hip through the whole process. I was drinking lots of water, eating clean, and taking milk producing herbs. After breastfeeding every hour and a half for 30 days my first child ended up in the ER failure to thrive. Heidi actually helped feed my second. Same problem with my third and fourth. Now I look back and know that I was in a constant state of fear in my marriage. No one bothered to ask me about that relating it to my milk supply.
And…. I wanted it sooo bad. Not only did I want the best nutrition for my little ones but I wanted that experience for myself and I’m sad that I missed out.
Shauna, It’s always fascinating to me to take a holistic approach when it comes to the problems we face. I think things are REALLY changing when it comes to looking at emotional and spiritual components to problems or issues in our lives but we still focus so much on the physical, that I think we are missing a WHOLE WORLD of help that is out there. Thanks for your comments. Hope your doing AWESOME! I think about your regularly. Let’s get together soon!! 🙂
This is a great article! And you are so right that this did not used to be an issue. My youngest is 19 now and I don’t ever recall this being such an issue awhile back. I think the mothers that decide to stop for their own reasons will sometimes use the excuse that they didn’t make enough milk when in fact, they just didn’t want to breastfeed. But then as you point out, if this mother says this to another mother-to-be, is starts to create that fear that it might happen to her also. We need to make mothers aware that most mothers and babies will be more than fine with breastfeeding and we need to remind everyone that there is plenty of breastfeeding support out there is you should have an issue. LLL, IBCLC, CLC, etc. So many women ready to help if needed!
Your points are very well taken. I definitely think there is something to them. The other thing that has occurred over the last 2 decades is the increase in cesarean section births and more births with epidurals. Both of these interventions can and do interfere with breastfeeding. So mothers actually do get a low milk supply and/or think (read: FEAR) that they have a low supply. They share their experience (potentially as fear) with other mothers and the cycle continues. There is a fear of birth!! So then, there are scheduled, non-medically indicated cesarean births. Same with narcotics, like epidurals, in labor because mother’s don’t trust their bodies to birth; they fear that the pain will be overwhelming and that they won’t be able to do it.
I am optimistic that that the tide is changing for women and babies, however. A birth revolution is afoot where women will reclaim our power as pregnant and birthing mothers, where we will know how truly powerful we are without the aid of interventions (unless they are truly needed, which sometimes they are).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this important topic!