Fertility Kitchen

Last week, I talked about the immense and incontrovertible benefits of breastfeeding versus formula.

With all that said, breastfeeding does present its challenges and, for many reasons, it's not an option for everyone.

I occasionally see clients who are having trouble with breast feeding—either with producing milk or with helping baby get the milk—and fortunately there are wonderful ways to treat these sorts of issues with Chinese Medicine, and particularly with herbal remedies.

Persistence and experimentation are also important elements in getting the hang of this activity that seems so natural, yet can feel quite awkward (if not downright painful) at first.

Figuring out the right timing

There are a lot of conflicting pieces of advice about the strategy of timing your feedings. Some moms choose to feed on demand. Others time their feedings strategically. Remember that you know your baby's needs better than anyone (except, perhaps, your baby). Experiment with different strategies until you find one that feels right for you and your growing family.

Baby doesn't have a good latch

It's best to try breastfeeding within the first few hours after birth. This helps to form an immediate bond between mother and baby. Studies have also shown that babies who are breastfed soon after birth develop better latching technique faster. It's baby's natural instinct to gravitate toward the breast in these early stages, so it's ideal to encourage and facilitate this behavior by allowing the baby to breastfeed right away. Skin-to-skin contact directly after birth is the only time a baby will sometimes crawl (before they're actually of crawling age)... right up to the breast, to latch on their own.

Challenges producing enough milk

This is where Chinese Medicine can be very helpful. Acupuncture and particularly Chinese herbs can be invaluable in helping kick start your body's milk supply. I (or another qualified acupuncturist) can work with you to develop a formula specifically for your body.

From the point of view of Chinese medicine, insufficient milk supply is generally due to deficient or stagnant qi—basically, mom is sapped and doesn't have enough energy or nutrients to supply milk. An acupuncturist will stimulate points that tonify your energy and help build your blood supply. They may also use herbal therapy and moxibustion to enhance these effects.

Western medicine and Chinese medicine both attribute milk blockage to over-activity in the nervous system (in other words, stress and anxiety). This is something else that acupuncture can address by relaxing, nurturing, and reassuring the mom. Sometimes, simply taking action to take better care of oneself can be the first step to stimulating milk production.

Painful or infected breasts or nipples

An acupuncturist should be able to relieve painful breasts with certain pressure points, and even show you how to stimulate these pressure points yourself in order to soothe painful breasts at home. Always keep an eye out for mastitis and infection, and get appropriate treatment if those pop up.

Resources

In San Francisco, we have access to some great resources for helping with breastfeeding issues.

1. Natural Resources

2. Le Leche League

3. Day One

There are a lot of conflicting strategies and opinions about how to breast feed (timed feeding versus feeding-on-demand being the primary argument), but remember that—just like your own body—you know your baby's needs better than anyone. Utilize strategies in conjunction with intuition and experimentation to discover what will work best for you and your growing family.

I trust that each woman makes the decision that is right for her and her baby, but I would be remiss if I didn't promote my bias toward breastfeeding. If breastfeeding (or providing your baby with breast milk) is an option for you, there is no comparable way of imparting nutrition and nurturing to your little one.

All mammals produce milk, and every mammal's milk is designed specifically for its particular young. In the case of humans, our breast milk contains the exact formulation of nutritional requirements that our babies need in its ratio of proteins, lactose, vitamins, minerals, and water. (Incidentally, this is called "the biological specificity of milk.") Food scientists have done their best to replicate this formula with, well, "formula", but there is no substitute for the real thing.

The Scientific Facts

Breast milk is specifically manufactured by your body to help your baby grow in the following areas:

1. Breast milk is integral to developing a strong, healthy immune system and preventing infection. This is probably the most well known fact about breastfeeding. Breastfed children build stronger immune systems faster and generally respond better to vaccinations. Within the first year of life, there are approximately 400 species of bacteria that establish themselves in the human gut. Breastfed infants have a lower rate of morbidity than formula-fed infants. Breast milk enhances the colonization of Bifidobacterium Bifidum, which may also inhibit the colonization and growth of pathogens during this vulnerable time. Citation: "Oligosaccharides in Human Milk and Bacterial Colonization," Newburg DS, J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, March 2000;30:S8-S17.
2. Breast milk is good for the brain. Again, human breast milk is specifically designed for what we need. In our case (versus other mammals) a fast-maturing brain is vital to a healthy being. We humans are known for our brains, and our milk is designed with just the right nutrients to enhance brainpower. One of these important nutrients is Taurine, an amino acid that the body cannot otherwise manufacture. Breast milk also contains Omega-6. This fatty acid helps the brain transmit messages throughout the body—um, you get the message.
3. Breast milk keeps your baby's body growing at just the right pace. Believe it or not, human breast milk is actually low in protein compared to many other mammals, and this is on purpose. Our bodies are meant to grow relatively slowly in relation to our brains, so that we can take advantage of the early bonding process with our mothers by being carried and nurtured for a prolonged amount of time. This is a crucial element of how we learn to exist in social relationship with other humans.
4. Breast milk boosts vision. Science has proven that the vision of breastfed infants develops faster than that of formula-fed babies. This finding is remarkable particularly in premature infants. The current thinking is that this is because of the presence of DHA in breast milk (in addition to the aforementioned Taurine). DHA is one of the prime structural components of the retina... yet another reason that breastfed babies have a healthier outlook on life.
5. Breast milk ensures a healthy amount of attention from the mother. There's no way around bonding with your baby when it's literally attached to your body for a large part of the day!

Next week I'll post a follow-up post on The Challenges of Breastfeeding, with some herbal medicine tips to get around those tricky first few weeks.