Why Some Moms Don’t Breastfeed
It’s no secret that most moms say that the actual act of breastfeeding is much more challenging than they originally anticipated. According to the CDC, 83% of parents intend to breastfeed their babies when they are born, but only 24% of mothers manage to exclusively breastfeed their babies by the six-month mark. This statistic tells us that moms are facing challenges that are often too difficult to overcome when it comes to their intended feeding journey. Let’s look at the top reasons why some moms don’t breastfeed.
Lactation Problems
Painful nipples, supply issues, inability to latch, and swollen or infected breasts are some of the top lactation problems that may cause a mom to stop breastfeeding altogether. See below for more details:
Painful or damaged nipples are often caused by an incorrect latch, so if you are having issues with pain when breastfeeding, it is best to have your latch checked by a lactation consultant.
Supply issues can either be caused by risk factors in a mom’s medical history, or a disruption in the supply meets demand cycle. This means that your body only makes enough milk as you tell it to through latching the baby or other forms of breast stimulation and milk removal (pumping or hand expression).
Some moms also have underlying medical conditions that make breastfeeding unsafe for the baby, such as HIV infection, active herpes outbreak on the breast, or taking certain medications like chemotherapy, opioids, or illicit drug use.
While most babies are born with the strong rooting and suck reflexes that help them latch to the breast, those that are born premature or have other medical concerns may not be ready to latch in the early days.
Other things that can cause latch issues are if artificial nipples are introduced too early or if the mom has flat or inverted nipples. There are many tools lactation experts can use to try and help a baby latch to the breast when it is not coming naturally.
Most moms also experience some degree of breast engorgement (swelling and fullness) during their journey. While most cases are normal and can be easily cared for, there is the possibility of developing a breast infection called mastitis. We prevent mastitis by frequently removing milk and properly caring for swollen breasts. Still, if an infection occurs, it can be painful, cause a drop in supply, and require antibiotics for treatment.
Lack of Knowledge and Support
While the movies make breastfeeding look so easy and natural, it can be much more complicated than people realize, along with a steep learning curve in the first week or two. Many hospitals and birthing centers offer lactation support during the stay, and for one or two days thereafter, but when you return home, you may feel like you are on your own.
Understandably, many women feel embarrassed to breastfeed their babies in front of others, so there has been a shift toward bottle feeding as the social “norm” for infant feeding.
Many moms also tell me that the pressure of being the sole source of nutrition for their babies is overwhelming. To have a dad or another caregiver help feed the baby a bottle without the need to pump around the clock can give mom a chance to sleep for more than a 3-hour period of time.
These are just a few of the reasons why Leva has made it our mission to provide moms with the support and expert guidance they need when the roadblocks are feeling monumental.
Going Back to Work
The percentage of stay-at-home moms has dropped dramatically in recent decades, meaning most are headed back to work after a short maternity leave. This is not only difficult emotionally, but the separation of mom and baby during the day can mean the demise of breastfeeding as well. If you want to maintain your milk supply (remember, higher demand means higher supply), a consistent and frequent pumping routine with a high-quality pump is necessary. While new laws are being placed to protect a mom’s right to time and space for pumping, many women still feel they don’t have the ability to pump as much as they need to when returning to work.
Even if pumping isn’t an issue, the simple separation of not being able to directly latch, see, hear, and smell your baby can result in a drop of the lactation-supporting hormones and therefore cause a drop in supply. On that note, moms whose menstrual cycles have returned or become pregnant again may also face a hormonally driven drop in supply around this time.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is rarely described as an easy journey, but it is often highly rewarding and special. The beauty is that all families get to choose whatever path is right for them and their babies. Luckily we live in a world that provides us with options so that our little ones can stay nourished through various means. It is our mission here at Leva to empower you, our superhero moms, to make whatever choices feel best for you and to support you along that path. If you need help or guidance, reach out to one of our professionals for individualized support.
