Breast is Best

Breast feeding is one of the most beneficial things for a new baby. It is the perfect food designed for babies to provide the ideal nutrition they need. In addition to providing complete and perfect nutrition for these precious babies, breast milk also provides antibodies. These antibodies that come from the breastfeeding mother protect baby from all sorts of diseases and help babies develop a strong immune system. Breastmilk is also best for the development of a healthy gut. Gut health effects every aspect of our health, so it’s important to develop a healthy gut early on. Read more about gut health here.

Additional benefits include decreased risk for obesity and diabetes, increased IQ, better bonding with mom, decreased risk for SIDS, and so much more. It’s also free! Even for a mom who pumps most insurances will provide a free pump and milk storage bags are not that expensive.

One would think with all these benefits that vast majority of women would choose to breastfeed, at least to start, but less than 60% of women within the US even attempt to breastfeed. Meanwhile countries like Norway, Poland, and Sweeden over 90% of babies are breastfed! So why do so few women within US breastfeed?

While the reasons for choosing formula over breastfeeding vary greatly many women do desire to breastfeed and they should be given every opportunity to succeed. It’s also important for moms choosing formula to have all the facts before them before making that choice.

Feeling Inadequate

Did you know that about 40% of women don’t feel that they can provide enough nourishment for their baby on breast milk alone? Did you know that approximately 50% of women ended their breastfeeding journey sooner than desired?

There is a common but false thinking that many women are actually incapable of breastfeeding. Would it surprise you to learn that only 2-3% of women are truly incapable of breastfeeding their baby? That’s right! The vast majority of women are perfectly capable of nourishing their baby on breast milk alone. Now this doesn’t mean it’s a walk in the park and that breastfeeding doesn’t come with its own struggles. I’ve breastfed 5 babies, I can definitely say it isn’t always easy.

That being said, most women with proper education, resources, and support, are able to breastfeed successfully. So why do so many women feel incapable or feel like they failed? The answer to this is complex and multi-faceted. With the exception of those who just straight up choose to formula feed, there’s no one single reason behind it.

Lacking Support

I personally believe one of the biggest reasons is lack of support. We have failed miserably as a society in supporting moms during the postpartum months. Women are expected to bounce back, tend the house, take care of the older children, return to work, and 5,000 other things all while recovering and taking care of a new baby. Is it any wonder so many breastfeeding journeys struggle, and or, fail? Moms need better support period!

Lacking Education

Another contributing factor is lack of education, miss guided information, and myths about what breastfeeding should look like. Many of the women who do strive to breastfeed are trudging through this journey wondering if they’re producing enough, if they’re doing it right, or if they should be doing “that” differently. With proper education more women will experience a more successful breastfeeding journey.

Miss information can be detrimental to breastfeeding successfully. Did you know that cluster feeding is perfectly normal? Many people confuse this with a baby being left hungry and unsatisfied at the breast. Moms are scared into thinking their baby isn’t getting enough milk and they run to the store for formula. Another example is that babies shouldn’t be waking frequently after so many months to nurse, when in fact babies are meant to wake often. This leads to either supplementing with formula or starting solid foods earlier than recommended.

While it is important to ensure your baby is getting enough milk it is equally important to know that most moms are providing enough. If baby is producing plenty of wet diapers and seems satisfied between feeds, even if they’re hungry again 30 minutes later, then rest assured baby is getting what they need.

Stigma is another contributing factor to so many women struggling. Did you know for many years breastfeeding was considered what poor people who couldn’t afford formula did? Or that when formula was first on the market it was advertised as superior to breast milk? Additionally, there are so many different opinions on what breastfeeding should look like. It can be very overwhelming and intimidating to choose to breastfeed if that goes against the norm in your family or in your circle of friends.

Overcoming Obstacles

Every breastfeeding journey has its obstacles that must be overcome. The first few weeks of breastfeeding are rarely easy, even for a seasoned mom, every baby is a new breastfeeding journey and together they need to learn how to breastfeed successfully. No one journey is the same and the struggles to be overcome will vary.

Some common issues include:

-Oral ties. Lip, tongue and check ties are somewhat common. Checking for and revising them used to be routine but now they often go unnoticed and are left unrevised. They can greatly impact a baby’s abilities to breastfeed and should be dealt as soon as possible.

-Going back to work. Many moms need (or want) to return to work. Some have no choice but to return mere weeks after their baby is born. While this can present a challenging situation to breastfeed successfully through, many women are able to do so. Having a good support system as well as knowing your rights in the workplace are important for a successfully breastfeeding journey.

-Low supply. Only 2-3% of women are truly incapable of providing enough milk for their baby. that means 97-98% of women can! If you are dealing with supply issues in most cases, it can be overcome. Most doctors are quick to recommend mom supplement with formula, but this serves to only hinder mom’s supply even more. Instead feed baby often, pump as much as you can, and support your body with good nutrition. If dealing with hormonal issues support your body with herbs that support your liver and help balance your hormones like turmeric, black pepper, and dandelion root. Check out this tincture from Earthley Wellness.

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