Notes

Breastfeeding - The Ultimate Confidence Game
Thus begins the crisis of confidence for most modern breastfeeding mothers...

Human breasts are mammary glands and are fairly mysterious structures when viewed from the outside. Their size and storage capacity for holding a milk supply will vary greatly from woman to woman. Unlike other types of containers, such as cups or bottles, they do not come standardized; there is absolutely no truly valid solution to analyze the quantity of milk volume that is being produced and stored at any given moment. It is possible to only get yourself a ball park notion of the inner workings of a lactating breast when breastfeeding styles and milk removal methods are taken into careful consideration.

Human milk production begins after the delivery of the infant and removal of the placenta. Hormones setup milk production within the breasts and facilitate the release of fluids and nutrients into the ducts. Initially it is just a complex feedback system between the baby, the mind of the mother that is secreting the hormones of lactation and the breasts of the mother. By the end of the second to third month post delivery, the machine becomes less influenced by the hormonal circuit; variations in milk supply commence to be completely dictated by the way the baby breastfeeds.

Through the beginning days of breastfeeding, mom makes more milk than her baby can drink. The amount of milk being consumed will increase as time passes. The breasts get in-synch with the appetite and breastfeeding design of each unique baby; the milk supply is replenished commensurate with the patterns that have been established. get more info is normal for the breasts to settle down and carry the milk in a less dramatic fashion. However, at these times many women begin to worry. They will have gotten the misimpression that "fullness" is essential to prove they will have enough milk.

Anxious mothers will undoubtedly be often be encouraged by medical personnel, lactation "experts" and friends to pump to be able to "stimulate" their milk supply. It is the old "Seeing is Believing" logic. The imperfect removal of milk by these machines does make the breasts initially feel "fuller". At times this is a good bit uncomfortable because the pump cannot drain the breasts in addition to a baby. Mom starts wanting proof that she has ample milk. The more she pumps, the more vested she becomes in "measuring" what the baby is eating.

When a mother relies more heavily on pumping and bottles to deliver her milk, there can be a poor impact upon the quality and frequency of direct breastfeeding sessions. The entire amount of circulating breastmilk will decrease because the emphasis shifts from letting the baby drive the milk supply. Unexpectedly the baby may start becoming fussy while breastfeeding but will continue to take bottles without offering any complaints. Such a change in behavior confirms mom 's fear that she actually is running out of milk; it is often the beginning of a pattern of regular supplementation which can lead to early weaning.

This 'Confidence Game' can only be won by focusing on optimizing how the actual breastfeeding has been done and leaving nothing to chance. Breastfeeding may be natural, but is surely an experience with a learning curve. Support and guidance ought to be tailored to each unique breastfeeding couple.

Get your free Mini-Conscious Breastfeeding Course and participate in a community of empowered 'Conscious Breastfeeding' mothers at http://thebreastfeedingsalon.com Join the weekly conversation and obtain your confidence boosted live on The Breastfeeding Salon Show

M�ire Clements, RN, IBCLC, the "Conscious Breastfeeding Guru" has been empowering new mothers around their breastfeeding experience for more than 22 years as a lactation consultant, rn and educator in neuro-scientific maternal-child health.
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