Sensitive mom topic
By Sylvia Petersen Nov 23, 2021 11:06 am
Breastfeed the baby fully for the first few months and completely avoid supplementary feeding - many new mums have this one wish. Other women, on the other hand, cannot breastfeed or make a conscious decision not to breastfeed their child. What speaks for breastfeeding, when is it perhaps better not to? STYLEBOOK spoke to a midwife about the sensitive topic.
As a mother with a newborn, you want to do everything right, but at the same time an incredible number of emotions are released. The milk coming in and the start of breastfeeding is a real challenge for many women. Something that you often imagined to be completely different during pregnancy and which can cause enormous stress in the postpartum period. In fact, breastfeeding has many health benefits - for both the mother and the baby.
Also interesting: Pregnant in Corona times - what women should know
Protection against diabetes
According to the European Institute for Breastfeeding and Lactation (EISL), breast milk contains many "immunologically important components" that are only passed through the breast to the child during direct breastfeeding. If, on the other hand, the milk is pumped, this "microbiome" changes, according to a report from 2019. According to EISL, children who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes or leukemia.
"But breastfeeding is more than just food intake, it promotes the mother-child bond," says Julia Ronnenberg. The blogger and mother of two daughters has been a midwife for over 15 years. "Mother and child come very close due to the close contact, the baby can smell mum's smell better on bare skin," says Ronnenberg. But the experienced midwife also emphasizes: "Of course, this does not mean that a woman who cannot or does not want to breastfeed cannot give her child the same love."
Breastfeeding burns 500 calories
According to the EISL, those who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer later. But breastfeeding also has other advantages, because "it contributes to weight loss and faster regression of the uterus," says Julia Ronnenberg. “Many women weigh a few pounds more after giving birth. A woman uses around 500 more calories a day when breastfeeding. Many women get rid of their excess pounds just like that.”
Also interesting: home birth - when it is suitable and when not
When breastfeeding, the hormone oxytocin is also released, which triggers so-called after-pains. "These are not very pleasant, but they cause the uterus to quickly return to its original size," says the midwife. "In normal condition, the uterus is like a pear, during pregnancy it can become as big as a medicine ball." Breastfeeding usually causes the uterus to return to its original size within ten to 14 days after birth. "For women who don't breastfeed, this process often takes longer," explains the midwife. "That's because they release fewer oxytocins."
When not to breastfeed
"There are few reasons why women shouldn't breastfeed," says Julia Ronnenberg. "Anyone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol should not breastfeed, as it can harm the development of the child." Smokers should consult their doctor. Some medications also require caution.
Ronnenberg's tip: "Women can get an initial overview of whether the medication they are taking is compatible with breastfeeding on the Embryotox.de website of the Charité advisory institute for drug safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding." rated as “critical” while taking the ADHD drug atomoxetine. At the same time, however, it is also important for the midwife to take the pressure off of breastfeeding, no woman should feel bad if - for whatever reason - she does not breastfeed her baby: "A 'good' mother does not matter whether whether she breastfeeds her baby or not. The most important thing is that baby and mother are doing well,” says Ronneberg.
Sources
– with expert advice from midwife Julia Ronnenberg – European Institute for Breastfeeding and Lactation (EISL)
