stress and breastfeeding

Being a new mom can be stressful.  Quite often you’re not sure of your ability to take care of a newborn, especially if you’re a first time mom.  Plus you're still recuperating from birth and trying to get used to your new body, which is adjusting to postpartum life and breastfeeding. Add to that the challenges to your relationship that can come with parenthood, and you've got a recipe for stress. If you are breastfeeding you may wonder what effect stress has on breastfeeding. 

Stress is natural part of life.  It is the way in which we react to things that are happening around us. Stress isn't always negative, in fact some stress is positive.  Much depends upon the reaction we have to events.

Stress can produce any number of symptoms, including physical symptoms like chest pains, headaches, and stomach problems; mental problems such as inability to focus, problems making decisions, and memory loss; emotional symptoms such as anxiety, guilt, and irritability; and social symptoms such as eating too much or too little and over-usage of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco, and even over spending. What does this have to do with breastfeeding? Well, if you are experiencing stress so severe that you have any of these symptoms, you need to take measures right away to help yourself.

Should you be concerned about whether stress will affect your baby?  Experts at La Leche League admit that it is not uncommon for a woman to experience a temporary drop in their milk supply while in a stressful situation. This may occur through delayed let-down or inhibited let-down.  Luckily, if the mother is able to take time to relax, it is possible for the drop in milk supply to reverse itself quickly. No mom in history has led a stress free existence, but billions of mothers all over the world have successfully nursed their babies and seen them thrive. Think about it - women have breastfed during famines, wars, and other stressful situations for centuries.

The great news is that when you’re under stress, breastfeeding can actually be comforting and relaxing to both you and the baby, thus reducing the stress you might feel.  This reduction is due to the hormones prolactin and oxytocin that are released into the bloodstream while your baby nurses.

Don’t think that you can’t provide enough milk for your child when you’re stressed.  You can.  What can you do if you’re stressed right now and breastfeeding?  These suggestions may help you to handle things better.

• Change what you can about your situation. Taking action always relieves worry and stress.

• Realize that you can’t control what’s going on around you in many cases.  However, you may be able to control how you react to those situations. If you can't change the situation, change your attitude.

• Try to focus on solutions rather than the problems themselves.  If your problems stem from breastfeeding itself, find out if there are ways to combat that problem.  Ask for advice from other nursing moms when dealing with sore nipples, thrush, or other breastfeeding issues. Get help from a La Leche League leader or lactation consultant.

• Take care of yourself.  Continue to get plenty of rest, eat a well-balanced diet, and get plenty of liquids.  All of these things will help your supply of milk.  Don’t hesitate to take time for yourself when Daddy gets home.  Not only will this help you relax, it will also give the baby and Daddy time to bond. Read more about  breastfeeding and the family.