How to be less stressed with a newborn? Breastfeed!

Caring for a newborn can sometimes be stressful no matter how baby is fed. But research has found that mothers who do not breastfeed are more stressed than mothers who do. Two obvious reasons for these differences are the calming effects of skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding and the release of the stress-relieving hormone oxytocin.


Swedish research has found that higher oxytocin blood levels decrease blood pressure and levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. In one U.S. study of 24 women who both breastfed and bottle-fed, researchers assessed the study mothers’ moods before and after breastfeeding and before and after bottle-feeding. Their findings indicated that the mothers were calmer after breastfeeding than after bottle-feeding. This study was significant because it eliminated one of the major problems in comparing breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women: the often substantial differences between women who choose one feeding method over the other. Since the same mothers were studied after both breast and bottle, this potentially confounding factor was eliminated. The down-regulation of stress that breastfeeding provides is no doubt one reason research has linked longer breastfeeding duration to better cardiovascular outcomes in mothers later in life.

Another U.S. study of 181 mothers measured mothers’ reactions to stress, including its effect on the immune system and their mood. The researchers found that the immune systems of non-breastfeeding mothers were more depressed by life stressors, and these mothers developed more infections than the breastfeeding mothers. The non-breastfeeding mothers also had higher levels of anxiety and fatigue. The researchers suggest that higher levels of blood prolactin stimulated by breastfeeding was related to more positive mood, greater immunity to infection, and decreased stress.

References
Dimitrov, S., Lange, T., Fehm, H. L., & Born, J. (2004). A regulatory role of prolactin, growth hormone, and corticosteroids for human T-cell production of cytokines. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 18(4), 368-374.
Groer, M. W., & Davis, M. W. (2006). Cytokines, infections, stress, and dysphoric moods in breastfeeders and formula feeders. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 35(5), 599-607.
Jonas, W., Nissen, E., Ransjo-Arvidson, A. B., Wiklund, I., Henriksson, P., & Uvnas-Moberg, K. (2008). Short- and long-term decrease of blood pressure in women during breastfeeding. Breastfeeding Medicine, 3(2), 103-109.
Mezzacappa, E. S., Guethlein, W., & Katkin, E. S. (2002). Breast-feeding and maternal health in online mothers. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 24(4), 299-309.
Schwarz, E. B., Ray, R. M., Stuebe, A. M., Allison, M. A., Ness, R. B., Freiberg, M. S., et al. (2009). Duration of lactation and risk factors for maternal cardiovascular disease. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 113(5), 974-982.
Uvnas-Moberg, K. (1998). Antistress Pattern Induced by Oxytocin. News in Physiological Sciences,

Pain with breastfeeding - What can you do?

Your comfort during breastfeeding depends, in large part, on where your nipple lands in your baby’s mouth. And that depends on how your baby takes the breast, or latches on. When your baby attaches to the breast deeply, she’s able to get milk effectively, and you are able to nurse comfortably.
To understand the difference between a deep latch and a shallow latch, use your tongue or finger to feel the roof of your mouth.
Behind your teeth and the ridges, the roof feels hard. When your nipple is pressed against this hard area in your baby’s mouth, it can hurt.
Farther in your mouth, you’ll feel where the roof turns from hard to soft. Some have nicknamed this area “the comfort zone.” Once your nipple reaches your baby’s comfort zone, breastfeeding feels good. There is no undue friction or pressure on your nipple.
To make breastfeeding easier, support your baby’s inborn feeding skills by bringing her entire body in contact with yours.
In laid-back positions, gravity helps the nipple reach the comfort zone. In other positions, you need to work harder to help your baby take the breast deeply. As your baby latches:

• With your baby’s body pressed firmly against you and her nose in line with your nipple, let her head tilt back a bit (avoid pushing on the back of her head).
• Allow her chin to touch the breast then move away.
• Repeat until her mouth opens really wide, like a yawn.
• As she moves onto the breast chin first, gently press your baby’s shoulders from behind for a deeper latch.
   

That last gentle shove helps the nipple reach the comfort zone. Breastfeeding tends to feel better when your baby latches on off-center, so her lower jaw lands far from the nipple.

Signs of Deep Breastfeeding

• You feel a tugging but no pain. (In the first week or so, you may feel some pain at first but this should ease quickly.)
• You may hear your baby swallowing.
• Both of her lips are rolled out.
• You see more of the dark area around the nipple above your baby’s upper lip than below, which means the latch is off-center as it should be.
• Your baby breastfeeds with a wide-open mouth, not a narrow mouth.
• When baby comes off, the nipple is rounded, not pointy looking.
   

Breastfeed until your baby is done. When she comes off the breast, burp her or change her diaper. Then, offer the other breast. Babies take one breast at some feedings and both breasts at other feedings.
If breastfeeding hurts, seek help right away from a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). See “Resources.” Nipple pain can almost always be alleviated by adjusting the way the baby takes the breast. The sooner you see someone who can help, the better. Some will also recommend an HPA Lanolin cream to help speed the healing process if you have cracked or bleeding nipples. This is safe for breastfeeding and not harmful to the baby.

Shaping the Breast
If your baby has trouble taking the breast, shaping the breast may help. To do this:

• Be sure your thumb and fingers run in the same direction as her lips. (Imagine your thumb as your baby’s moustache.)
• Keep your fingers back, out of her way.
• By squeezing the breast a little, this “nipple sandwich” may be easier for her to grasp.
   

Where you put your hand to shape the breast varies by the direction the baby approaches the breast. If she is lying across the breasts, shape your thumb and fingers like a “U.” If she you hold your baby along your side, shape your thumb and fingers more like a “C.” Remember, your fingers should run in the same direction as your baby’s mouth.
Breastfeeding is less work if your baby goes to the breast at breast level. Some babies do better early on if you support your breast. Others don’t need support. Do what works best.

Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA, Lactation Consultant, Ameda Breastfeeding Products
Coauthor of Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers

How to get a feel for breastfeeding!

In our systems-oriented world, it’s easy to override our instinct
Here’s how to get the “feel” for breastfeeding.
There are some things in life that are best learned by tapping into our left-brain, the analytical, rational hemisphere. It’s there that logic guides, studying sequentially facilitates learning, and rules rule. Then there is the right brain, more holistic and intuitive way to learn. Some things you process best by intellect, others by experience. Which brings us to breastfeeding.
There are countless articles and books and websites that explain everything you need to know to breastfeed, instruction that ignores the fact that breastfeeding is an interactive experience, dependent on communication between you and your baby. It’s not a matter of placing Point A (baby’s mouth) over Point B (mother’s breast) and commencing breastfeeding. Rather it’s more like a dance that engages the whole body. Each breastfeeding couple sets its own rhythm and pace.
Mothers and babies have physiological responses that draw them to each other, that encourage them to look at each other, touch each other, and interact. Much of this behavior is guided by the right side of the brain.

It’s time to take a right-brain perspective on breastfeeding.
How exactly do you use a right-brained approach to learning to breastfeed your baby? First, take some deep breaths and let go of those worries about doing things “wrong.” Instead of thinking of breastfeeding as a skill you need to master, or a measure of your worth as a mother, think about breastfeeding as an expression of your relationship. As you spend time with your baby, you’ll be more adept at reading her cues. As you hold her, your baby will be more comfortable seeking your breast.
Breastfeeding will flow naturally out of your affectionate relationship. And your body dynamics can make breastfeeding easier or harder. Here are some specific things you can do to help:
Start with a calm baby. One mistake that many women make is to wait to try breastfeeding until their babies are screaming. Think about it. Do you learn best when you are upset? Probably not. The other reason to start with a calm baby has to do with physics. When a baby is screaming, her tongue is on the roof of her mouth. You will never get your breast in her mouth when her tongue is there.
Watch for early feeding cues. These cues include turning her head when someone touches her cheek and hand-to-mouth. Take note of when she starts smacking her lips or putting her hands to her mouth. This is an ideal time to try breastfeeding.
You may not always catch your baby in the early hunger stages (such as when you’re sound asleep!) and may sometimes have to deal with a baby who is upset. Also, some babies go from a little hungry to very hungry very quickly. If you need to calm your baby, offer the breast. If this doesn’t work, don’t force the issue. First, soothe your baby by holding, swaying, rocking, or walking. Then try these suggestions:

• Lean back in a comfortable position. Semi-reclined positions in which your back, neck, shoulders, and arms are well-supported are sometimes referred to as laid-back. breastfeeding. These may be the same position you use to watch your favorite TV show.
• Lay your baby, tummy down between your breasts. Your baby can be either dressed or stripped down to her diaper. Then make your breast accessible. Your chest is a very calming place for your baby. She can hear your voice and your heartbeat. She can smell you and get the feeling of your skin. Talk with her and make eye contact to bring you closer to your baby.
• Follow your baby’s lead. When a calm baby lies tummy down on her mother’s laid-back body, this triggers instinctive feeding behaviors such as head-bobbing and movements toward the breast. If she is lying between your breasts, she probably won’t need much help. Encourage her with your voice. Babies can’t understand your words at this age, but they can understand your tone of voice. And feel free to touch and stroke her as the spirit moves you.
   

Play while you learn to breastfeed. Rather than worrying about doing things wrong, focus on your relationship with your baby and think of breastfeeding as a part of this larger whole. Breastfeeding often flows naturally from this attitude. Sometimes your baby may try to take the breast even when she not really hungry but just to try out this new behavior. Practice times are good and will help her breastfeed better when she is hungry.

Adapted from the book Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, FILCA and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, PhD, IBCLC

Welcome to our new blog!

Mothers Choice products is a company dedicated to mothers, mothering and breastfeeding. We strive to bring you the finest quality products and now we are offering support for breastfeeding and new moms! Many of our staff are registered nurses and breastfeeding councillors. We will be posting about breastfeeding issues and other useful tips! Feedback is always appreciated.