Conscious Breastfeeding - Creating A Foundation For A Happy New Year Of Breastfeeding

Posted on January 16, 2008
Filed Under Health and Fitness |

New Year Resolutions typically include losing weight, working on our relationships, getting organized and improving our general health and well being. No matter what time of year that a new mother finds herself beginning the breastfeeding journey, she will have entered a perpetual time of change and growth. During her year of breastfeeding, she will have ample opportunity to tackle some of the same concerns that many of us consider at the start of a New Year.

A Mother-led feeding style, “Conscious Breastfeeding”, can help a new mom to create a foundation for achieving many of her personal resolutions. She will do her feedings with intention and focus on getting a great latch at every feeding. This will maximize her removal of milk, optimize her supply and maintain healthy breasts. Overall, she will spend less time on pumping and have more quality time available to be spent with her baby, family and friends.

Using this ‘Conscious Breastfeeding’ approach is a win-win for both the mom and her baby. It is a great way to start off her breastfeeding ‘New Year’. Here are just a few of the general benefits of breastfeeding enhanced by specific ‘Conscious Breastfeeding’ Extras (CBE):

1. Weight Loss: The promise of quicker weight loss is a well known sales pitch to encourage new mothers to choose breastfeeding. Calories are used to produce milk.; eating a nutritious, well balanced diet, the mother will lose weight gradually over the course of the first year.

CBE: The mother carries her baby a lot which is a weight bearing exercise that develops strength in her arms and legs. Building muscle mass increases her metabolism and helps her to burn more calories. As the fat melts away, her body will be reshaped.

2. Fostering Relationships: The hormones involved in lactation include Oxytocin, ‘the bonding hormone’. It fosters a warm and loving connection to the baby. This is the same hormone involved in love-making.

CBE: Since feedings are more predictable, the baby can spend time with other family members throughout the day. Sharing responsibility for care of the baby and household allows the mom time to recharge her personal battery. Feeling supported and nurtured by her partner encourages emotional and physical closeness and helps to rekindle the intimacy in their relationship.

3. Getting Organized: Whether or not she was organized in her previous life, a breastfeeding mother needs to have some systems in play. Otherwise, she will feel overwhelmed.

CBE: The foundation of good feedings is a great latch and feeding with intention. Knowing patterns and creating routines helps the baby to adjust to life outside the mother’s body. There is an identifiable rhythm that develops between the mother and her breastfeeding baby which enables her to get things done.

4. Health and Well-Being Enhanced.: Becoming a mother for many women is the impetus to take better care of themselves. They pay attention to their diet, get enough exercise and rest to maintain a healthy pregnancy. Women may quit smoking and/or curtail habits that could affect their health and that of their baby. Once breastfeeding has begun, the mother continues her resolve to be healthy.

CBE: There will be a zen calm and a definite rhythm to the feedings. The mom will have time to exercise, center herself and rest as needed. Continuing to use good nutrition as her fuel, she will have ample energy reserves for herself, her baby and her partner.

If you would like to get your year of breastfeeding off to a great start, you are invited to stop by The Breastfeeding Salon to pick up your free Mini Conscious Breastfeeding Course and other resources. Check out our program, The Breastfeeding Salon Show where you can join in the conversation and learn more about these strategies.

Máire Clements, RN, IBCLC, the “Conscious Breastfeeding Guru” has been empowering new mothers around their breastfeeding experience for more than 22 years as a lactation consultant, registered nurse and educator in the field of maternal-child health.

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