As we have closed off breastfeeding awareness month this August, I acknowledge all the promotive measures that have taken place to promote breastfeeding and educate mothers of the benefits as well as the support needed for mothers in their breastfeeding journey. Breastfeeding does not only have nutritional benefits but provides important protection against diseases by means of sharing antibodies from mother to baby, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The benefits don’t stop with the baby. Breastfeeding can help lower the mother’s risk of certain diseases, including breast and ovarian cancer. Additionally, breastfeeding enables strong attachment and bonding between the mother and the baby.
However, how much have we been told about the real challenges of breastfeeding? The impact breastfeeding has on the mental health state of mothers. As well as breastfeeding being optional especially if your mental health is comprised? Unfortunately, we are not well informed in these areas and what to do if a mom struggles to breastfeed due to low milk production, poor mental health, and other chronic health conditions.
Instead, when a mom does not breastfeed, she is frowned upon by other moms who can easily breastfeed as well as society, without trying to understand the challenges of the mom and reasons for not breastfeeding. As a society we have become a society who is largely influenced by social media and most of the mom influencers glorify breastfeeding as the only option and have made having increased milk production fashionable. Granted, I acknowledge the benefits of social media with regards to mom influencers and how they have encouraged breastfeeding and I have seen a huge shift of other moms being influenced to exclusively breastfeed yielding positive results. On the other hand, we still have a long way to go with regards to the reality of motherhood and breastfeeding.
As a new mom, or an experienced mom you’re likely experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. From hormonal changes to sleep deprivation, to feeding choices for your baby, your life, and emotions may seem to be all over the place which is very overwhelming. According to the psych central weekly newsletter a mom’s mental health during breastfeeding can be affected by factors such as; the way you intended to feed your baby, if you struggle with milk supply, if you or your baby have a medical condition that makes breastfeeding difficult or not recommended, the amount of support you have at home and at work, the pressure some new parents may feel from the “breast is best” movement driven by society.
Whether you are a breastfeeding mom or a non-breastfeeding mom, taking care of your mental health is important. As a breastfeeding mom, allow others to help and support you with feeds by expressing milk in a bottle for the baby to be fed by someone else in the home. When assisted with feeds, take the time to rest and sleep. Allow others to help prepare nutritious meals for you. Always make your needs known.
As a non-breastfeeding mom, know that your role as a mother is just as valuable and that you not breastfeeding does not reduce to anything less as a mother. Make sure that you still spend time with your baby for bonding and attachment. Know that you can still as ask for help to wash, sterilize, and prepare bottle feeds especially for the night or prepare bottle feeds before bed and store them in the fridge with labels of time and dates. Ensure that you take the time to rest and sleep when you are getting assistance with feeds by resisting the urge to try to get through all the house chores. Instead, ask a family member/ friend or call in a domestic worker to assist with the laundry and cleaning perhaps once or twice a week.
In essence, this blog is to encourage society to be gentler and kinder towards moms, to be less judgmental with regards to their breastfeeding journeys and to show more love and support towards moms as a whole. Most of all, it’s for the moms to also to do the same. Show love towards yourself, acknowledge, and appreciate your journey regardless of how it may seem.
It took a while for me to do so, as I struggled to breastfeed due to decreased milk production which is associated with been a thyroid cancer survivor where my thyroid gland was removed. I had no idea that my breastmilk production would be affected so much, I had the hopes of exclusively breastfeeding which was not possible. I felt guilty with both my boys as they were exclusively bottle-feeding after several attempts, however I came to the realization that my worth as a mother is not determined by whether I was exclusively breastfeeding or not. There’s more to motherhood. And now, I know that I am capable, wonderful mother to my boys.
In your journey in motherhood, know that your mental health matters! Your voice matters, your feelings matter.
Your OT Mom Blogger