National Breastfeeding Month 2020

Integrative Therapies & Wellness is celebrating National Breastfeeding Month! 

Breastfeeding comes with some incredible benefits!

Research shows that breastmilk can provide protection against certain common childhood illnesses, such as ear infections, respiratory infections, and diarrhea.  It can also help to reduce the risk of certain allergies and type II diabetes. For mom, breastfeeding triggers the release of oxytocin, which plays a role in bonding with your baby, as well as stimulates the uterus to contract following childbirth. Breastfeeding may also reduce the risk of breast cancer as well as ovarian cancer.  

  . . . As well as some challenges.

While the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous, breastfeeding can also come along with some challenges. Pain with latch, clogged ducts, mastitis, and low milk supply are all common but not normal when initiating a breastfeeding relationship. If you plan to breastfeed, it is helpful to have a plan in place if you should need additional support.  

If breastfeeding is difficult, painful, or you have concerns regarding your supply, please don’t hesitate to reach out for help. The sooner you feel supported, the better your chances of a successful breastfeeding relationship. Integrative Therapies & Wellness is now proud to offer lactation services. 

As an occupational therapist with training in infant feeding, as well as a certified lactation counselor, I am able to assess baby’s latch and provide corrective interventions to avoid pain during nursing. I am also able to educate mom in common principles of milk production and provide reassurance that baby is transferring milk. In addition to these areas of lactation, I’m also passionate about providing holistic care. Many women find that with nursing comes musculoskeletal pain in their neck/back, arms, hands, wrists, etc., With education, repositioning and body work treatment often mom’s report that breastfeeding becomes much more comfortable. My goal is to provide support when and where new mom’s need it. I am able to provide services at our office, at your home, or virtually when necessary.

Before beginning your breastfeeding journey, here are a few other things you can do to set yourself up for success. 

• Take a class 

• Find your support

• Talk to your partner, doctor, and family and/or friends about your plans to breastfeeding 
• Locate your nearest lactation consultant, certified lactation counselor, or La Leche League before you need help. Know who you will call if you need additional support. 

• Follow a few techniques associated with improved breastfeeding outcomes

  • Immediate skin to skin following birth, initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour, “rooming in” and breastfeeding on demand have all been associated with improved breastfeeding outcomes. 

• Maintain realistic expectations regarding frequency of nursing.

  • When baby is born their stomach is only about the size of a cherry, by day three it’s about the size of a walnut. Breastmilk is processed quickly and efficiently. Expect baby to nurse often as they begin to help establish mom’s milk supply. Milk being removed from the breast often stimulates mom’s body to make more. Supply = Demand. A rough average for the first month of life is that baby will nurse 8-10 times per day, or every 2-3 hours. 

• Spend time skin to skin and continue to breastfeed on demand

  • Speaking of milk supply… while mom’s body can begin producing a highly concentrated, nutrient dense fluid called colostrum as early as 16 weeks into pregnancy, the transition from colostrum to mature milk typically doesn’t happen until between 2 - 5 days postpartum. Spending a good amount of time skin to skin and continuing to breastfeed on demand during the first few weeks of a breastfeeding relationship can be crucial to establishing a healthy breast milk supply. 

Hopefully these tips are helpful for you to begin a successful breastfeeding journey. If you find that you need additional support, contact us at Integrative Therapies & Wellness. 

Happy Feeding!

Alyssa Shirek, MOT, OTR/L