Hey mommas, i know breastfeeding can take a toll on your mental health. You may feel like you’re not making enough milk, or doing enough for your breastfed baby. I’m here to tell you, please do not beat yourself up and you’re doing a wonderful job, I know this may sound cliché to not be combative with yourself; I promise you momma it’ll be okay and there will be better days. 

Some reasons why breastfeeding may take a toll on mental health is mom may feel like she’s not producing enough milk as previously mentioned, or other breastfeeding difficulties, such as baby isn’t feeling satisfied in some way shape or form (this doesn’t always have to do with feeding). Or you may feel like your baby is constantly cluster feeding (as I did with mine) or prefers you over the bottle and pacifier, although its bonding and protecting your baby, it can also becoming draining or feeling depleted of energy. In this time it’s okay to ask for help, or allow someone else to come over and bond with the baby. At 1st your baby may cry to baby manipulate you, and I know as mothers we want our babies to be 100% comfortable not hurt or cry, I promise as long as your baby is in great care she/he will be okay, pump some milk and get some rest, or self care. We as mothers need it and it’ll also be a decompression you never knew you needed.

If you’re struggling with postpartum depression, breastfeeding can help because it’s kind of like a “forced interaction” for lack of better word, while breastfeeding momma will more than likely touch, stroke, look and lock eyes with the baby, all of this can bring about happy feelings or release the happy hormone or feel good hormone oxytocin, and for that moment it will relieve some feelings of depression. Breastfeeding reduces feeling of stress, as we know from our previous Made Me Milk Blogs, breastfeeding releases hormones and suppresses others. For instance a hormone called relaxin can suppress a stress hormone called cortisol. 

Although breastfeeding can and does lower the risk for postpartum depression, there is still some risk for mental health , and the feeling of not doing enough or feeding enough, not enough rest, all of these factors can play a role in mental health, and stress. Making sure you as a new momma and breastfeeding momma at that get enough rest, and taking care of you first is important. A major lesson I learned is IT’S VERY NECESSARY for me as a mom and once upon a time a breastfeeding mom, to take care of me, because if I don’t; I cant care for my child in the best possible way. If I don’t eat because I’m momming hard, I cant make enough milk, and if I don’t make milk, I can’t feed my baby. So I had to learn how to pace myself. I have a great village that honestly makes me take a step back re-evaluate make necessary changes, and move forward. I need that support. Take time to re-evaluate and assess where you momma, may need extra support from your support system and that can make a ton of differences, along with relieving stress. Did you momma suffer from mental health while breastfeeding? How did you combat it? Chime in mommas, let’s chat!

For more information and support follow up with your care provider and click the links below:

https://www.postpartum.net/5-mental-health-risks-many-lactating-parents-face/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9572809/

https://laleche.org.uk/bf-postnatal-depression/