The Surprising Impacts of Breastfeeding on Physical and Mental Health
Making the decision to breastfeed your new baby is personal, with many mothers finding that it can impact their physical and mental health in positive and negative ways.
With World Breastfeeding Week (August 1st - 7th), LunaJoy wants to highlight some of the issues and benefits breastfeeding has on moms.
Before you begin, remember that our professionals are always here to help
A Quick History of the Societal Pressures Impacting Breastfeeding and Mental Health
During the 1960s and 70s, baby formula was all the rage. Yet, there were many drawbacks as poorer regions began to see an increase in infant malnutrition and starvation.
This led the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote breastfeeding and to start their campaign in the 1990s of "Breast is Best." Other organizations signed on board and began recommending that moms should be exclusively breastfeeding for at least 6 months.
From this campaign, the stigma around using infant formula began to rise, as did shaming mothers for the choices they make for their babies and their bodies. Women were made to feel as though they are not a "good moms" if they cannot exclusively breastfeed, even if exclusively breastfeeding is not a viable choice for some families.
This stigma of viewing breastfeeding over formula remains today, and it’s taken decades for viewpoints to change to "fed is best."
The "fed is best" campaign began as practitioners understood the stresses moms were experiencing if they could not exclusively breastfeed their little ones. Still, even this campaign has its issues. What is most important is that mothers choose what is physically and mentally best for themselves and their babies.
The Physical and Mental Health Strains of Breastfeeding
Physical Strains
While breastfeeding can provide a host of long-term physical benefits to moms, such as the reduced risk of cancer and heart disease, many immediate, adverse physical effects occur when feeding your little one.
One of the biggest struggles for breastfeeding moms is the seemingly endless fatigue, and it's not just because your baby is crying all night. Moms who are breastfeeding experience an increase in the hormone prolactin, which aids in milk production but has the drawback of making you feel drowsy.
On top of being tired, many women struggle in the first few weeks of breastfeeding and may have an ample milk supply that can cause painful breasts.
Moms may experience the common issue of mastitis, an infection caused by a blocked duct or bacteria. Additionally, feeding your little one can cause nipples to crack, and biting can become an issue once a baby starts having teeth.
Mental Strains
In addition to the physical pains that breastfeeding can induce, there is a potential for moms to experience mental health burdens too. One of the causes of poorer mental health when breastfeeding is the challenges that can come with it. Many moms may be unprepared and not know how to cope with low milk supply, latching issues, and the physical strain breastfeeding can cause.
Although breastfeeding can positively affect mental health due to increased levels of oxytocin, the struggles moms face when breastfeeding, especially at the beginning, can make moms feel increased stress, leading to symptoms of depression and anxiety—especially when experiencing higher levels of fatigue.
Moms who have concerns about breastfeeding before the baby arrives or believe they don't have adequate support are also at a higher risk of experiencing adverse mental health effects.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
Many moms know that breastfeeding is good for their baby, but they may not know that it can be great for them (and even the environment) too!
Benefits for your baby
Decades of research have found that breastfeeding is great for a baby's physical and mental health in the short and long term. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and it's been found that babies who breastfeed are at a lower risk of developing asthma.
They have more robust immune systems and are less likely to experience ear infections, colds, and tummy issues. Later in life, breastfed babies are less likely to develop Type I or Type II Diabetes, cavities, be obese, and more.
Moms who want or are currently breastfeeding will be happy to know that it can potentially improve the mental health of their little ones later in their lives.
While breastfed babies cry more often, are fussier, and laugh less than formula-fed babies (which is totally normal!), there is an opportunity to increase the mother-emotional child and social link, which is fundamental for the child's mental health. This connection can later improve the child's capacity to regulate their emotions, lower the stress response, and promote healthy social growth.
Benefits for you
Even with all the stress and struggles that come with breastfeeding, moms who breastfeed can experience a positive effect on their physical and mental health. The hormones released during breastfeeding can decrease stress levels and increase the body's cues for relaxation.
Additionally, while it may not seem like it, moms who breastfeed are more likely to experience an increase in slow-wave sleep or deep sleep. These combined factors create a cyclical effect that influences their and their baby's health.
Beyond the mental health aspect, breastfeeding can decrease a woman's risk of breast and ovarian cancers and reduces their risk of being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes.
Breastfeeding moms may also find faster changes to their post-partum tummies, as breastfeeding causes the uterus to contract and release, allowing it to return to its pre-baby size quicker. Additionally, breastfeeding can burn up to 500 calories daily, aiding in post-partum weight loss.
Moms who breastfeed can also feel good knowing they contribute to a more sustainable world, a focus of this year's World Breastfeeding Week. Bringing awareness and choosing to breastfeed can increase gender equality, decrease poverty, improve economic growth, and reduce carbon footprints as breastmilk does not require manufacturing or transportation.
What to Know: Mental Health & Breastfeeding
While choosing to breastfeed or use formula is a personal decision, it’s helpful to understand the historical context, as well as the research that backs up your decision.
Ushering a child into this world is not without its challenges, no matter the decisions you make along the way. If you’re looking for some support in your parenting journey, LunaJoy has a presence in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, and North Carolina and our Online therapists are here for you. Consider taking our Pregnancy/ Postpartum assessment to determine if you could use some support today.
