Breastfeeding…What I wish I had known
I always imagined breastfeeding as an enjoyable bond between me and my babies, one that would just come naturally and leave a smile on my face. This was not the case for me and I know this is not the case for many women out there. The truth is breastfeeding is hard and for many of us we aren't told this before we have our baby and start the breastfeeding journey.
As a pediatric chiropractor I often see mom's in my office who are struggling with breastfeeding. When I first started practice tongue and lip ties seemed to be a huge part in breastfeeding struggles, and doing some cranial work on these babies really seemed to help along with lactation consulting and tongue/lip releases. I just assumed as I was treating these mom's and babies that breastfeeding struggles were simply because of tongue and lip ties, boy was I wrong.
Two years into practice I found out I was pregnant and felt fully prepared for the breastfeeding journey ahead. Well let me tell you it was not easy. My son did not have a tongue or lip tie, and since he was adjusted 20 minutes after he was born and frequently after that I had no idea why breastfeeding was so hard. My cracked and bleeding nipples were just the start, I suffered from clogged ducts, what I thought was a low supply, and over and over again just doubted myself and didn't know why I couldn't do something that was so natural.
What I wouldn't do to go back and tell my first time mama self that it was okay, and that everything I was doing was perfect and that breastfeeding is hard, not easy at all. I felt alone, and while I had amazing support and even saw a few lactation consultants along the way, I never got to a point with my first baby that I thought breastfeeding was easy and I had a good grip on it. Eventually the cracked bleeding nipples stopped, I was able to manage the clogged ducts, and I found some good foods and oils that helped with my milk supply. Around 11 months, however, I was done, and so was my son. He weaned himself and I just didn't want to deal with the constant battle with myself on whether or not I was enough, so our breastfeeding journey ended. While I was glad it was over, and impressed that I made it as long as I did, I still felt a bit defeated, and had a hard time believing that I was the only one who struggled with breastfeeding. I was right, and as soon as my breastfeeding journey ended my practice seemed to explode with mom's struggling with breastfeeding. Of course, I dove in head first and took all the courses I could on tongue/lip ties, cranial work, and just the biomechanics of breastfeeding in general. What I learned over the course of the next 4 years was astonishing.
Here are a few of my favorite tidbits that I now share with every mama (new, experienced, breast feeder, bottle feeder, tongue tied baby or not) that I wish I would have known when I was a new mom.
1. Your nipples have to form calluses to help protect them from all the suckling. What?! Yep, so those first few weeks of breastfeeding when your nipples are sore and may crack or bleed...normal. Your nipples are not used to all that sucking and pulling constantly every few hours, so like any body part they have to toughen up, and they do so by forming calluses. These calluses, just like all other calluses, go away too after you have weaned, so each time you start the journey over again...you guessed it, more calluses need to form. And for those mama's with inverted nipples this can take a bit longer to form those calluses and really draw the nipple out.
2. Clogged ducts happen a lot due to thicker more viscous milk. So if you produce thick milk and are prone to clogged ducts using sunflower lecithin can thin out your milk, without decreasing any fat content and help keep those clogged ducts at bay. (Please talk to your health care provider on how to properly use sunflower lecithin).
3. Let down is not a tried and true sign of milk production. Some women never experience letdown, and for most women after 3-6 months it completely goes away. I was always afraid I wasn't producing anything because my let down stopped after 3 months and I was convinced no let down meant no milk.
4. Pumping does not always indicate how much milk you are producing or how much your baby is getting. The real truth is most babies are way more efficient than any pump and while they may nurse and get 6 ounces in 20 minutes a pump may get 2 ounces in the same amount of time. DO NOT let that pump discourage you and make you feel like you are not producing enough.
These 4 tips were game changers for me as I learned all I could about breastfeeding and how to help other mom's not feel so defeated by the process. So when that second baby came a long I was more prepared and ready to take on the whole breastfeeding journey. Second time was still a struggle, again my daughter did not have any tongue or lip ties, but she was very lazy and I again experienced a lot of pain at first. I kept telling myself and reassuring myself about all I had learned and as she gained more experience on my breast and her latch became stronger, I felt myself enjoying the journey a bit more this time around. I started having clogged ducts again and the sunflower lecithin changed my life, I pumped only when I really needed too and never looked at the amount that came out, and I stopped focusing on the feeling of let down and just focused on being in the moment when I was feeding her. And you know what, I made it 2 full years of successfully breastfeeding, in fact she would still be breastfeeding today if I'd let her. Since I didn't have to wean my son I was lost at how to wean her, but that's another story for another day.
So with 2 breastfed babies under my belt I still enjoy helping those moms and babies who struggle with breastfeeding and I want every mama out there to know that you are not alone. There are so many of us who have not found it easy or enjoyable to breastfeed. And whether your baby is tongue-tied or not seeking out the right team for support is crucial. Take advantage of the knowledge your midwife, lactation consultant, chiropractor, or breastfeeding friend has and know that you are not alone. My office door is always open and I not only love to help those struggling with breastfeeding using chiropractic care, but also love helping you find the team that is going to help you find that successful breastfeeding story for yourself.