top of page

National Breastfeeding Awareness Month

This blog posted was written from the point of view of Melanie Allen, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES, combining her personal experience with breastfeeding as well as her nutrition expertise to raise awareness about the breastfeeding journey and share useful resources.



As a dietitian and a breastfeeding mother, I want to shout this out from the rooftops! The bonding and health benefits I have shared with my children have been incredibly rewarding. But breastfeeding is not without its challenges. And in this country, it is often a privilege to breastfeed because of the dedicated time, resources, and support it requires. I am fortunate to still nurse my ten month old son, and I was able to nurse my daughter until she was 14 months old. With each child, I had dramatically different experiences. Both journeys have brought me joy and pride and many lessons learned along the way.


Although I am a trained nutrition professional, I did not anticipate many of the challenges of breastfeeding. Exhaustion, latch issues and pain, poor supply (and the mental toll of not being able to provide), clogs and mastitis, being walked in on at work while pumping, breastfeeding during the COVID-era lack of community…there were so many complicating factors along the way. I learned that every woman’s journey with breastfeeding is different. As a bit of a cynic, I wish someone had prepared me better for all the worst-case scenarios. Full disclaimer, though I am a Registered Dietitian, I am not a Lactation Consultant. Below I want to share some personal insights into breastfeeding.


Don’t Do it Alone. Some combination of ongoing COVID restrictions in 2021 when I had my first child and misplaced personal pride left me feeling isolated and hesitant to seek out additional support when I struggled to produce enough breast milk for my daughter. With my second, I was fortunate to have some truly amazing lactation consultants (shout out to Erin Kirkpatrick at Midcoast Hospital) and an in-person support group at Midcoast Hospital that still connects me with an amazing group of mothers. 

TO DO: Look into what services are offered by your birthing location or seek out support from other sources like Maine Mother + Company. Motherhood can be lonely and isolating, and shared experience is crucial. You don’t know what you don’t know, and a trained Lactation Consultant can make all the difference. 


Do Your Homework. Take advantage of resources at your local hospital or reputable online sources like Kelly Mom and La Leche League. The bonding and snuggles are amazing, but there are many things that may not go according to plan. For example: both of my children had a tongue tie, which in the case of my first, affected her latch, and in turn my milk supply. Pumping as a working mom can come with its own challenges, such as higher frequency of clogged ducts and sometimes lower milk output than nursing. These issues can be overcome, but you’ll need education and support.

TO DO: Take classes, read books, talk to mom friends, and prepare yourself for worst-case scenarios so you’re ready for any challenges that crop up along the way. 


Know Your Own Limits, Physically and Mentally. Breastfeeding can be a harrowing endeavor for your mental and physical health. Certain antidepressants and ADHD medications can’t be taken while breastfeeding. This may make breastfeeding untenable for you. YOUR mental health matters. Formula feeding may be the best fit for mother and baby’s wellness, and that’s okay. Can’t produce enough breast milk? You can work with a Lactation Consultant, power pump and try all the galactagogues (foods that promote milk production), but at the end of the day if you’re miserable, stressed and exhausted, trying to produce a few extra ounces may not be worth the physical and mental cost. Perhaps supplementing with formula takes away some of that mental burden so you can enjoy nursing a little bit more. This later scenario rang true for me. When I finally started supplementing with formula for my first, a weight was lifted off my guilt-ridden shoulders. Once we added formula, I got to enjoy nursing so much more.  

TO DO: See a Lactation Consultant for any breastfeeding concerns, but also know yourself and your own limits. A fed baby is always best, whether that is breast milk, formula or some combination of the two. 


Gather your Arsenal of Support. Have your spouse sit in on breastfeeding class. Call in your mother and mother-in-law for nap breaks. Connect with your hospital or birthing center’s lactation consultant and build a relationship. Find a group. Multiple avenues of support are key. I did not have a support group with my first, but I did with my second. That second journey was far less lonely. 

TO DO: Reach out and bring everyone on board to support you and baby for your breastfeeding journey. 


Nourish Your Body. Breastfeeding moms require up to 400 extra calories per day from prior to pregnancy and about 175-210 grams of carbs per day. Extra calories should come from lean meats, beans, low-fat or nonfat dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Do not skip meals or drastically reduce portions in an attempt to shed baby weight. Especially in the first two months while establishing a milk supply, avoid dramatic changes to your diet. A gradual pace of weight loss of 5 pounds or less per month may be okay once your milk supply is established. Some women have an easier recovery and return closer to pre-baby weight faster with breastfeeding. Include some galactagogues if your supply isn’t where you’d like it to be: chickpeas, oats, kale, spinach, broccoli, garlic, nuts and seeds (especially almonds), and brewers yeast (great in cookies).

TO DO: Get a meal train set up so during those early weeks, you don’t have to cook your own meals. Prepare and freeze foods and lactation cookies before baby comes. Meet with a Lactation Consultant to troubleshoot nursing and milk supply issues and a Registered Dietitian if you need support with your own meal plan. 


I’d like to take a moment to stress that a fed baby is best. For some, breastfeeding is not possible. Time and resources, mom’s medications, baby’s latch, schedule, work environment, mental health, and so much more can pose challenges. Supplementing with formula is a great option if producing or pumping enough milk is not sustainable for you and baby. Make choices that support the wellbeing of everyone in the family. 


See this past blog post from former colleague and Lactation Consultant, Jacqui Stevens, about many important aspects of breastfeeding and resources galore!



References:

Comments


bottom of page