Category: Breastfeeding Benefits

6/4/2018

Breast Nurturing

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Christelle's premature baby alert while receiving Breast Nurturing

The Definition of Breast Nurturing

Breast Nurturing means positioning the baby so his or her face remains near the mother’s breasts frequently throughout the day (and ideally also at night) without any pressure for the baby to latch, so they can connect and bond. In many cases, Breast Nurturing helps trigger the baby’s natural instincts to nurse, at his or her pace. If breastfeeding is not possible for the mother or baby, for whatever reason, Breast Nurturing is still beneficial for both mother and baby.

What behaviors may be included in Breast Nurturing?

Frequent contact between the mother’s bare, partially clothed, or fully clothed breast and the baby’s face or cheeks without any pressure for the baby to latch
“Wearing” the baby in a safe wrap, carrier, or sling throughout the day
A “laid back” breastfeeding position for rest; or side by side for safe bedsharing

How is Breast Nurturing different from “skin to skin”?

Skin to skin contact is ideal for Breast Nurturing. However, skin to skin may be difficult to achieve for a lengthy time, due to many mothers’ desire for privacy when her chest is bare -- which may make it impractical if you have visitors or frequent interruptions. Breast Nurturing can be a good compromise between simply holding the baby (which is also wonderful! ...but may not trigger the baby’s instincts to breastfeed) and true skin to skin (which may be difficult to practice for a lengthy period of time).
For babies with signs of breast refusal or oral aversion, true skin to skin may trigger a very negative reaction, which makes breastfeeding impossible and can interfere with mother-infant bonding. Fully clothed Breast Nurturing, however, may be acceptable to the infant. Slowly “wooing” the baby to the breast by acclimating the baby to the fully clothed breast, the partially clothed breast, and finally, to the bare breast with no pressure to latch can be the first steps to successful breastfeeding.

What are the benefits of Breast Nurturing?

Breast Nurturing, especially if skin to skin, allows the baby to smell the mother’s milk. Casual brushing of the nipple against baby’s cheek can trigger the younger baby’s rooting reflex. If the baby is also held in a “laid back” position, there can be powerful triggering of the baby’s natural breastfeeding instincts.
Breast Nurturing, especially if skin to skin, helps to encourage the mother's milk production.
Breast Nurturing time may be the first positive physical interactions the mother and baby have experienced since birth, especially if there have been painful or frustrating breastfeeding experiences. By completely removing the pressure for the baby to latch, mother and baby may both feel relief and can enjoy this special bonding time.
Breast Nurturing provides a way forward toward breastfeeding that allows the baby to set the pace which can be a tremendous relief to both baby and mother. Often, mothers as well as other people (including health care providers) may have put much pressure on both of them to “make” breastfeeding happen. Breast Nurturing removes this pressure. Obviously, if the time since baby has fed has been more than a couple of hours, baby will need an alternate feeding method. In the early days, babies can be successfully fed by cup, spoon, syringe, medicine dropper, or finger feeding. Older babies can be fed successfully by cup. While bottles are not ideal, they may be necessary if baby will not accept other modes of feeding. Younger and older babies may also feed from a supplemental nursing system, if they are latching. The mother should remove her milk from her breasts frequently (8-10 times per day) by hand expression or pump to keep up her milk supply. You should seek out the help of a lactation consultant or other infant feeding expert to show you how to use these feeding tools and to ensure baby is growing well.

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11/17/2017

Why PRO-Lifers need to start seeing breastfeeding

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If you’ve ever traveled by car, then you’ve probably seen the sign: Start Seeing Motorcycles. I have never driven a motorcycle, but I’m pretty sure the reason that sign exists is because more than one biker has heard a car driver exclaim, “I didn’t even see it!” after a crash. Awareness saves lives.

So why do pro-lifers need to ‘start seeing breastfeeding’? No; I don’t mean we should start ogling breastfeeding mothers--I mean we who refer to ourselves as “pro-life” need to promote all the wonderful “womanly arts” that help mothers and babies fall in love. One of the strongest mother-baby glues is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding releases hormones in both mother and child that produce feelings of calm, happiness, sleepiness, and love. Breastfeeding feels like everything that is good about cuddling with your child, and then some. Mothers who breastfeed are less likely to abandon or abuse their children. Furthermore, the longer a mother breastfeeds, the more responsive she is to her child for years to come. These facts are something every pro-lifer should find compelling.

All mothers benefit from the extra love and patience that breastfeeding nurtures in us. Mothers who have considered abortion need every possible help to bond with their babies once born, including breastfeeding, if possible. Do we shy away from sharing breastfeeding with mothers who may have considered abortion because we think it will be “too hard” or “too difficult” when she goes back to school or work? Every breastfeeding mother faces challenges at some point. Of course, some situations make it easier, but I doubt any breastfeeding mother can say she never had a difficult day. Do we simply underestimate mothers who considered abortion? Shouldn’t our message be one of encouragement that she is capable of breastfeeding, just as we believed that she was capable of carrying and birthing her child?

She was capable of carrying and birthing her child.
And she is capable of breastfeeding.

How much of our failure to trust in her ability to breastfeed might stem from our own difficulties with breastfeeding -- or those of people near and dear to us? Perhaps no one was there for you in your own struggles, and perhaps you decided in desperation that you just couldn’t do it -- or do it anymore. This was a loss and it’s OK to grieve. Part of this grieving is allowing ourselves to trust that others might not have the same difficulties we did and giving them the freedom to try, unencumbered by the pain of our own experiences.

A strong mother-baby bond is something we pro-lifers must care about. We must not only want babies to survive through birth, we must also want to see them thrive after birth. A baby’s own mother’s milk is normally the best nutrition for that baby ... and it comes in the softest packages. (What breastfeeding mother doesn’t take joy in seeing her little one fall asleep against her breast after a feeding?) While there are many benefits to the baby of his mother’s breastmilk, this post isn’t the place for a list. (If you need one, this webpage and its links should satisfy that need!) Instead, let’s think a little more broadly. We want babies to survive and thrive, so we need to promote breastfeeding. For almost all babies, it is the very best food possible.

Of course, we also must want to see mothers thrive. Breastfeeding is not only good for babies, but also for mothers. (If you need a list of reasons, here you go!) Chances are that a woman who has gone through an unplanned pregnancy, with considerable emotional and physical challenges, may have also experienced a challenging birth and recovery.

This is where what we are striving for at Breastfeed {Naturally} can be such a helpful addition to the pro-life movement. Our breastfeeding advocates and counselors are encouraged to nurture long-term relationships with mothers -- before and after the baby’s birth. We are there for mothers if breastfeeding is straight-forward and “easy” -- and also if the mother experiences challenges and difficulties. It is not our job to “fix” the mother and baby, but to give her information and support (and referrals to health care providers, if need be) so that, if possible, she can continue the breastfeeding relationship with her baby. And if the mother decides that weaning is best, our counselors are there, too -- if desired -- to help the transition be as positive as possible.

In fact, our advocates and counselors make great additions to the team at local pregnancy help centers. If you aren't located near one of our breastfeeding specialists -- have one of your staff or volunteers train with us! Our training is all-online, affordable, and can be completed at your own pace.

So I encourage all who consider yourselves “pro-life” -- and even if you don’t! -- to Start Seeing Breastfeeding. Encourage mothers to breastfeed; encourage the breastfeeding mothers in your life; and thank the mothers who breastfed. It isn’t easy, but it is worth it. In the case of breastfeeding, awareness not only saves lives (because it does), it also enhances lives -- and has the potential to make them beautiful.

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Breast Nurturing

The Definition of Breast Nurturing

What behaviors may be included in Breast Nurturing?

How is Breast Nurturing different from “skin to skin”?

What are the benefits of Breast Nurturing?

Why PRO-Lifers need to start seeing breastfeeding

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