“Is there an epidemic of women with breastfeeding problems?”

Recently I was with two new moms both of whom had difficulty in the early days of breastfeeding their infants. One care provider had said she saw so many new mothers with breastfeeding issues that she wondered if there were an epidemic.

I have seen this too. So I have looked into some resources to see what’s going on.

*What I have found is several studies showing that when mothers have lots of IV fluids administered to them during birthing, the babies also get some of that fluid and their weight at birth is augmented from a “true” weight. They pee out lots of this fluid during the first twenty-four hours and that together with normal weight loss of newborns, puts their loss at the 10% range so the medical team has heightened concern about weight loss. The mom then has added pressure on her initial breast feeding and is often encouraged to supplement.

*When I checked La Leche League website it mentions the above and also writes about the side effects of epidural medication. There are many cocktails used in an epidural with varying side effects….because moms are hydrated with IV fluids they can become engorged and the nipple can be difficult for the newborn to latch onto.

Some of the medication can get into the bloodstream and then cross the placenta and effect the newborn and the newborn can be less responsive because of narcotics.

*In a recent edition of the Journal of Perinatal Education (Lamaze publication) one of the articles talks about the need for more in-depth education for mothers about the challenge of birth and the lack of education on the effects of pain medication on the birth mother, baby, and the satisfaction level of birth.

One way, I believe, we can help mothers make informed choices is to point out that they have been extremely careful not to ingest anything dangerous for their babies for months of pregnancy and then are encouraged to put all kinds of drugs into their bodies during the last 24 hours.

Birth is definitely a powerful challenge, but with caring, educated support

mothers can do this and they can do it by making healthy choices for themselves in the moment and for the long run for their health and for the health of their babies.