Preparing for Breastfeeding
“It is about looking at the big picture, how can we positively affect the wellbeing of the mother and infant since breastfeeding isn’t just tied to the physical body, its an emotional, psychological and spiritual journey for both”
We recently chatted to Kerrie Adams IBCLC about how to set yourself up for breastfeeding success during pregnancy and postpartum. This is such a beautiful read if you are currently pregnant and planning to breastfeed or even if you are pregnant with your second or third and would like to support yourself better if you have previously had breastfeeding challenges.
How can new mothers set themselves up for successful breastfeeding from the beginning?
If I could say one thing you must do is learn about breastfeeding before the baby arrives, don’t wait. Mothers who invest in taking the time to learn beforehand seem to do better and have more realistic expectations of what the journey may look like and just how much it changes your life. Breastfed babies don’t come with a manual or schedule and it can be such an adjustment.
What is something you love most about breastfeeding?
The connection, every time its this. Breastfeeding is so life giving and your baby feels everything, your love, and every emotion and gosh their little smiling face as they get older and reciprocate, its really divine. Additionally I just cannot say enough about the immunological and nutritional benefits - its just so perfectly designed for our babies, its second to none.
Is there anything you recommend for mothers during pregnancy to support breastfeeding?
A whole food and nutrient dense diet and anything that can support the nervous system to relax. Putting this in place in pregnancy and allowing it to flow on into postpartum is vital to a mothers wellbeing and her milk supply. This and also educate yourself on what breastfeeding looks like and how it could be for you.
Additionally have a postpartum fund, we are often very focused on the birth yet postpartum often needs support from other services such as bodyworkers, acupuncturists, lactation consultants and other allied professionals. As well as other nourishing support which could be delivered/prepared meals, a postpartum doula, massages, bodywork for mum etc.
What advice do you wish you could give to every new mother as they begin their breastfeeding journey?
1. GIVE IT TIME. Rome wasn’t built in a day and sometimes breastfeeding needs a good 6-12 weeks to really become established with confidence.
2. TRUST YOUR INTUITION. If something does not feel right, then its not and seek support.
3. DON’T WAIT TO GET SUPPORT. Have your support team ready - research local lactation consultants, have a meeting with them make sure they are a good fit for you. Also make sure they know how to assess for all types of breastfeeding issues including tongue tie and allergies. Not all IBCLC’s have these skills, and this can make all the difference to your journey in the early days. Sorting out breastfeeding issues early can make a huge difference to the journey. You really don’t have to go this alone - there is help there if you seek it and also plan ahead for it.
How do you approach your role as a holistic IBCLC?
I love to combine my medical background and evidence based knowledge with natural health practices to inform my work with mothers, and discuss with families their options for moving forwards in their feeding journeys. This may include involving other allied health practitioners such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, osteopathy and also supplements and natural medicine alternatives.
It is also about looking at the big picture, how can we positively affect the wellbeing of the mother and infant since breastfeeding isn’t just tied to the physical body, its an emotional, psychological and spiritual journey for both participants.
I also sometimes use hypnotherapy and EFT in my work with mothers also which can be effective around limiting beliefs and moving past emotional blocks for breastfeeding, birth and motherhood.
What tools do you use to support your sessions?
I often use oral function skills for babies who need support around sucking - sometimes they need a bit of help! This may include some simple bodywork technique for releasing tension for babies so they feed better. I also involve other allied health professionals and natural medicine alternatives when needed. Being an experienced midwife also helps and some things come very naturally in the postpartum environment. Often times there is debriefing around breastfeeding trauma and/or the birth.
In what ways do you find a well nourished mother means a well nourished baby?
Our babies are a direct reflection of us - so if we are emotionally and physically well nourished as mothers our children really feel this too. This is something we really must set up for ourselves before our babies arrive, easier said than done but the time to find the village is prenatally even if we have to source and pay for it. Sometimes this is in person and it can be also be online. Oftentimes women passionately choosing to work in the birth profession really extend themselves to supporting women with so much love. Its really worth the investment.
How can mothers prevent depletion from breastfeeding and best support their milk supply?
Eat well and make sure you have support. You cannot underestimate how being well nourished in every way will support you in breastfeeding and the supply of milk.
Stress and overwhelm can negatively affect supply - so having even micro-moments of body and mind space is so helpful. It could be a tea and some deep breathes on the back porch whilst your partner or friend watches the baby. Regularly instilling this really adds up. If you can do more time away or have a massage etc, absolutely do it.
If you can only mother and have time for yourself when your babies are small this will pay dividends for your mental health. You don’t need to achieve anything else - mothering small children is yours and the worlds greatest gift. If you feel like being creative - go for it. Just make sure whatever you choose fills you up and doesn’t deplete you.
Have a community, meet other like minded mums locally and make sure you have open chats - women thrive on this. You can also access counselling, I myself set this up for after my 2nd child, those few sessions really helped me to get things off my chest and thrive as my family expanded and so did my capacity.
To contact Kerrie for support or book a session you can find her at https://www.kerrieadams.com
Another resource I find myself recommending to clients if you are unable to meet with a IBCLC prior to birth is the JWP Preparing for Breastfeeding Guide it is such a comprehensive resource and so useful to refer to as questions arise during both pregnancy and postpartum.
As an acupuncturist I often support mothers through breastfeeding challenges and there is so much we can do to with Chinese Medicine, whether its to boost milk supply, treat mastitis, ease body tension from long hours breastfeeding, regulate the nervous system, treat tense or colicky babies, or gently ease the transition of weaning. This is something I have become so passionate about supporting since my own breastfeeding journey and I feel there is so much to be said about the mother baby dyad. In my experience treating the mother has a profound flow on effect to the baby, this interconnection is beyond and such an honour to witness.