Are there any downsides to breastfeeding?

In the wake of universal support and promotion of breastfeeding, I would like to pay a little attention to those things that some consider the negative aspects of breastfeeding. What problems await the nursing mother, what will she have to face and what to confront?

Are there any downsides to breastfeeding?

Although both doctors and society as a whole are very positive about the breastfeeding system, there are still quite a lot of mothers who feed their children with artificial mixtures. And sometimes they very violently try to resist the numerous ideas of natural motherhood:

• prolonged breastfeeding;
• feeding the baby on demand;
• sleeping together.

The loss of breast milk for a child can safely be equated with a biological catastrophe, since the great benefits that breast-feeding brings to a baby have been repeatedly proved. This is a stronger immunity, and an impetus in intellectual development, and the establishment of a close emotional connection between mother and baby.

But for mummies, and those who practice artificial feeding, and those who prefer the natural, it is important to understand one thing: breastfeeding is not a panacea, not an ideal solution to all issues 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 desire of the mother to breastfeed her baby. And for this process, emotionally, as well as informationally, it is necessary to prepare before the birth of a child. Many mothers are confident that since breastfeeding is a natural process, everything should go smoothly from the very beginning. Therefore, they refuse to think about what will happen after the baby is born. It seems that nature will tell, but in fact it 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, gather information, and psychologically tune in order to be ready to care for her newborn and breastfeeding.

If earlier one could hope for the transfer of experience in caring for a child from previous generations, now the problem is also observed in this aspect, since over the past decades dramatic changes have taken place in so many issues on upbringing and GB.

Strength of character and the ability to stand your ground - mandatory features of the character 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.

[sc: rsa]

A young mother will have to defend her position in many matters. This is feeding on demand, and in the first half of the year there is no additional feeding, nothing but mother’s milk (when the baby receives only mother’s milk without any additional food or drink), the absence of pacifiers, nipples, and bottles. In all these, as well as many other issues related to the child and his upbringing, the nursing mother will hear a lot of advice, sometimes even contradicting each other, from people of the Soviet era who lived in 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 it, because powerful, targeted from all sides attacks of relatives can break even strong resistance.

Breastfeeding can make you feel unwell.

Breastfeeding may be accompanied by some symptoms, the cause of which is an altered state of the hormonal background of a young mother:

• Drowsiness. It is associated with the effect on the body of the hormones of the pleasure of endorphins. They seek to relax and euthanize a woman during feeding with the baby;
• Decreased concentration. The reason for this is the high level of the hormone prolactin in the body, which focuses all the attention of a woman on a child;
• Decreased libido. All the same prolactin reduces the production of estrogen in the body, and it is precisely the last one responsible for the menstrual cycle and sexual desire. Thus, the body seeks to rest and restore its strength after a complex process of procreation;
• Eating problems. Craving for sweets, constant thirst or nausea - the effect of the hormone oxytocin on the body.

Responsibility and the need to make decisions

At first, it may be difficult for young parents to take on new roles and realize that now it is they who are responsible for the decisions made and their consequences in relation to their own child. Therefore, mothers who seek the advice of a breastfeeding consultant often find 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, give information and tools to solve your problems, and provide the necessary moral support. And then you have to take the situation into your own hands and resolve it (fight with lactostasis, open your chest, etc.).

And if you do not have confidence in the success and desire to fight for breastfeeding, be sure 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 is short of milk. They are especially pronounced during periods of lactation crisis, which occur in 3, 5, 7, 12 months of a child’s life. In fact, it turns out like this: a child grows, the energy costs of his body increase, as does the need for food, but his chest does not have time to readjust to new baby's needs overnight.

Also, mothers often worry about stagnation of milk and the problems that this condition can cause, therefore they are constantly expressed, than only increase the amount of milk produced, closing the vicious circle.Another fear are pain during feeding and use nipple linings.

The main factor in the production of breast milk is the mom’s confidence in what she is doing, the belief that the baby is getting the necessary amount of milk, and the willingness to make the maximum effort to keep lactating for the period necessary for the baby. This confidence can be gained by watching the baby stable weight gain, a sufficient number of bowel movements and baby’s crib, 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 in the first years of his life (see the composition and useful properties 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 will be able to observe throughout his life.

Change 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 role of mother and nurse has 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 adapting a baby after birth to a new world that will provide the baby comfort, warmth and food. With breastfeeding, the baby will feel more relaxed and confident, and mom through this interaction will be able to quickly establish contact with the baby, go through the process of psychological addiction, successfully enter a new role for herself, which is called “motherhood”.

We also read: working mom and breastfeeding: helpful tips

The cause of problems with the shape of the chest and figure

Breastfeeding can be the reason why the excess weight gained during pregnancy does not go away after the birth of the baby. Of course, very often the reason for this may not be breastfeeding, but the fact that the newly-minted mother eats uncontrollably for two.

However, the body during this period stores fat 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 sports loads and dietary restrictions.

We also read: how to lose weight after giving birth to a nursing woman

Regarding changes in the shape of the breast, the point here is not at all in feeding, but in heredity and pregnancy as such. Indeed, very often mothers who did not feed the baby for a single day still express dissatisfaction with the shape of the breast that they received after childbirth.

Much more negative consequences for the female breast are constant expressions, uncontrolled nutrition, weight jumps, incorrect attachment of the childligation of the breast to minimize breastfeeding (see article on how to finish breastfeeding properly). The cessation of lactation is gradual, rather than abrupt, just giving the body the necessary time to return the breast to pre-pregnancy forms (see article how to stop lactation).

A certain number of inconveniences

• You need to feed the baby at a very different time - both day and night;
• Sharing a dream with a child can cause discomfort to mom and dad;
• Milk tends to leak from the breast;
• In some situations, there is a need for decantation;
• As long as you are breastfeeding, you should not sleep on your stomach;
• Up to 6 months, it is not advisable for a child to be left at home for grandmothers or other relatives for a long time;
• There are a number of food restrictions (coffee, alcohol (harm of alcohol), food from fast food). We read an article on what you can eat nursing mothers;
• Smoking highly recommended (the harm of smoking).

It is very important to stay positive for breastfeeding.

Keeping 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 development of a sufficient amount of milk. The more nervous you are, 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 gets nervous - less milk - problems with hepatitis B and the baby.

Therefore, do not listen to depressive stories of acquaintances about their failures and difficulties, but rather feel like a part of wildlife, where feeding cubs in mammals is such a logical and natural process that all doubts dissipate at the same moment.