Breastfeeding |
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As moms navigate their way through pregnancy and parenthood, breastfeeding is a large topic of conversation. The postpartum period is a crucial time for supporting new families and mothers as feeding struggles can affect everyone.
Mothers who have physical and emotional support during this time are more likely to meet their breastfeeding goals and feel better overall about mothering their infant(s). Many pediatricians recommend infants are exclusively fed breastmilk for the first six months to one year to help with overall growth and development; however, it is important for moms to determine the duration they breastfeed depending on how they are feeling throughout the experience. Each pregnancy and baby are different, do what feels best for you and baby.
We have provided some helpful information below to help you during this transition. If you would like more information, our website has a wide variety of resources to help you, and please reach out to Roots Family Collaborative for one on one assistance!
Mothers who have physical and emotional support during this time are more likely to meet their breastfeeding goals and feel better overall about mothering their infant(s). Many pediatricians recommend infants are exclusively fed breastmilk for the first six months to one year to help with overall growth and development; however, it is important for moms to determine the duration they breastfeed depending on how they are feeling throughout the experience. Each pregnancy and baby are different, do what feels best for you and baby.
We have provided some helpful information below to help you during this transition. If you would like more information, our website has a wide variety of resources to help you, and please reach out to Roots Family Collaborative for one on one assistance!
What is breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is a way to feed your child through breastmilk, whether directly from the breast or by pumping and using a bottle. Each mom is different in their choice to feed their infant and we want to encourage all sources of feeding.
Breastfeeding is a way to feed your child through breastmilk, whether directly from the breast or by pumping and using a bottle. Each mom is different in their choice to feed their infant and we want to encourage all sources of feeding.
Possible benefits of breastfeeding:
- May strengthen the bond between mom and baby
- Breastmilk has antibodies to help the baby fight off illnesses and infections
- Can help promote the development of oral-motor skills
- May delay return of menstrual cycle
- Some moms have experienced more weight loss from breastfeeding
- May decrease postpartum depressive symptoms
- It is often considered to be more affordable compared to other feeding methods
Although breastfeeding has many benefits for the mother and infant, we also acknowledge the emotional and physical challenges moms may experience during their feeding journey. At Roots we want to support all moms throughout their transition into feeding and parenting. Below are some of the common challenges we have discovered through support groups and conversations with moms.
Common challenging themes with breastfeeding:
Common challenging themes with breastfeeding:
- Am I supplying enough milk?
- How/when do I start weaning?
- How can I have help from others while breastfeeding?
- What is combination feeding?
- How do I transition back to work while breastfeeding?
- Breastfeeding after one year
How Roots can help you:
The Roots Feeding Support Circle provides a safe, accessible, and welcoming environment for all mothers learning to feed their babies. Roots understands the importance of social support. The Feeding Support Circle will acknowledge mothers within a peer-to-peer support model while recognizing all forms of parenting, feeding, and support systems. The support circle welcomes open communication, all emotions, and the chance to talk with fellow mothers in the perinatal period.
The group is held every Tuesday 10:30 to 11:30 at our location, 110 S. Grand Ave on the 2nd floor. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Click here to go directly to our perinatal guide for more feeding resources
Every mother needs support during the transition into parenthood and we want to help you during that journey. We have found more resources to help provide more information to you. Please check them out!
Podcasts
Below we have found a few podcasts that discuss breastfeeding and all of the questions, concerns, and milestones mothers experience. We like podcasts to help pass time during late-night feedings, driving, cleaning, and all other tasks you may be tackling throughout the day/night.
The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast
The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast was created by two mothers who had very different breastfeeding experiences: difficulty latching, milk supply, confidence in their ability to breastfeed, feeding multiples, and more. Dianne is a mother and a board-certified lactation consultant who brings knowledge on all breastfeeding topics. Abby is a mother of two who enjoys co-hosting the podcast to help other breastfeeding mothers. The podcast covers a wide variety of breastfeeding topics in a way for all mothers to help them during the rewarding, yet difficult journey of breastfeeding.
The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast
The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast was created by two mothers who had very different breastfeeding experiences: difficulty latching, milk supply, confidence in their ability to breastfeed, feeding multiples, and more. Dianne is a mother and a board-certified lactation consultant who brings knowledge on all breastfeeding topics. Abby is a mother of two who enjoys co-hosting the podcast to help other breastfeeding mothers. The podcast covers a wide variety of breastfeeding topics in a way for all mothers to help them during the rewarding, yet difficult journey of breastfeeding.
- The podcast can also be accessed through Apple, Audible, Spotify.
- Click here to access more information and resources provided by The Badass Breastfeeding Podcast.
Breastfeeding Unplugged
Breastfeeding Unplugged is a podcast that provides evidence-based advice and support to parents prenatal and postpartum. The host of the podcast, Amanda, is a certified lactation consultant and founder of Nest Collaborative. She strives to support parents on their breastfeeding journey by providing helpful advice and welcoming knowledgeable guests to share information with moms regarding breastfeeding. Amanda talks about a wide variety of topics around breastfeeding such as milk supply, return to work, benefits of breastmilk, tongue ties, pumps, and much more!
Breastfeeding Unplugged is a podcast that provides evidence-based advice and support to parents prenatal and postpartum. The host of the podcast, Amanda, is a certified lactation consultant and founder of Nest Collaborative. She strives to support parents on their breastfeeding journey by providing helpful advice and welcoming knowledgeable guests to share information with moms regarding breastfeeding. Amanda talks about a wide variety of topics around breastfeeding such as milk supply, return to work, benefits of breastmilk, tongue ties, pumps, and much more!
- The podcast can also be accessed through Apple, Audible, and Spotify.
- Click here to access more information and resources provided by Nest Collaborative.
Evidence-based Research
For the moms who enjoy reading evidence-based research, we have provided an article summary with how to access the full article.
Feeding an infant is stressful for all mothers and may lead to mental health problems because of the typical stigma around breastfeeding. There are various ways to provide for an infant, including exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive bottle feeding, mixed feeding, and many more. In two studies, the authors look at breastfeeding and bottle-feeding to determine the relationship between maternal mental health problems and feeding.
An article review by Pope and Mazmanian (2016) examines the current research of the relationship between postpartum depression and breastfeeding and the recommendations for future research. The article used several studies to discuss the differences and similarities in the current research. During the article review, the authors determined the needs and suggestions for future research on postpartum depression and breastfeeding. Although the article was a review, it provided beneficial information and demonstrated a significant need for further research.
The authors examined a wide array of topics, including consequences of breastfeeding, postpartum depression, breastfeeding intention and initiation, breastfeeding and maternal mood, and breastfeeding duration. To start the review, it was essential to highlight the consequences of postpartum depression, such as an increased risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, adverse long-term effects on the infant's social, cognitive, and emotional development (Pope & Mazmanian, 2016, p. 2). The authors also describe emerging research by stating, "breastfeeding may offer protective benefits against postpartum depression; however, the exact nature of the association between breastfeeding and postpartum depression remains unclear" (Pope & Mazmanian, 2016, p.2). The relationship between postpartum depression breastfeeding has been investigated in several studies. Challenges with the studies showed an array of responses between the relationship. For example, it is believed that breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of depressive symptoms, and formula-feeding mothers experience higher rates of postpartum depression.
Further research examined breastfeeding intention and initiation and depressive symptoms. The authors used research to determine if the intent to breastfeed impacted the outcome of breastfeeding and postpartum depression. Challenges in research from the section included women who demonstrated depressive symptoms before pregnancy were less likely to breastfeed; however, they also determined that some women from that group changed their minds and initiated breastfeeding after birth (Pope & Mazmanian, 2016, p.3). These findings proved that intent to initiate breastfeeding is not an appropriate approach to determining the relationship between intention and initiation and postpartum depression because mothers change their minds during this time.
Breastfeeding has a wide range of impacts on the mother physically and emotionally. The current article found research that has proven women who do not breastfeed experience higher rates of experienced depressive symptoms (Pope & Mazmanian, 2016, p.3). Reasons for depressive symptoms can be related to negative experiences with breastfeeding, which in return, can cause early termination to breastfeed. Findings within breastfeeding and maternal mood also showed that duration of breastfeeding could impact depressive symptoms, meaning the longer duration of breastfeeding showed a decrease in experienced depressive symptoms. Pope and Mazmanian (2016) discuss the overall findings by stating, "after considering the findings collectively, the investigators postulated that breastfeeding alleviates depressive symptomology over time (p.3).
The current article review by Pope and Mazmanian (2016) used a variety of articles to determine the impact of breastfeeding and postpartum depression. The overall findings of the article review demonstrated a need for future research and how to improve research approaches to the studies, including standardized assessments, clarification on diagnosis protocols and cutoffs, the definition of breastfeeding variables, and determining the time frame of onset of symptoms. Nevertheless, the article was beneficial to decide on the current research and how breastfeeding may impact postpartum depression and potentially other maternal mood disorders.
Pope, C. J., & Mazmanian, D. (2016). Breastfeeding and postpartum depression: An overview and methodological recommendations for future research. Depression Research and Treatment, 2016, 1-9. doi:10.1155/2016/4765310
Feeding an infant is stressful for all mothers and may lead to mental health problems because of the typical stigma around breastfeeding. There are various ways to provide for an infant, including exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive bottle feeding, mixed feeding, and many more. In two studies, the authors look at breastfeeding and bottle-feeding to determine the relationship between maternal mental health problems and feeding.
An article review by Pope and Mazmanian (2016) examines the current research of the relationship between postpartum depression and breastfeeding and the recommendations for future research. The article used several studies to discuss the differences and similarities in the current research. During the article review, the authors determined the needs and suggestions for future research on postpartum depression and breastfeeding. Although the article was a review, it provided beneficial information and demonstrated a significant need for further research.
The authors examined a wide array of topics, including consequences of breastfeeding, postpartum depression, breastfeeding intention and initiation, breastfeeding and maternal mood, and breastfeeding duration. To start the review, it was essential to highlight the consequences of postpartum depression, such as an increased risk of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, adverse long-term effects on the infant's social, cognitive, and emotional development (Pope & Mazmanian, 2016, p. 2). The authors also describe emerging research by stating, "breastfeeding may offer protective benefits against postpartum depression; however, the exact nature of the association between breastfeeding and postpartum depression remains unclear" (Pope & Mazmanian, 2016, p.2). The relationship between postpartum depression breastfeeding has been investigated in several studies. Challenges with the studies showed an array of responses between the relationship. For example, it is believed that breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of depressive symptoms, and formula-feeding mothers experience higher rates of postpartum depression.
Further research examined breastfeeding intention and initiation and depressive symptoms. The authors used research to determine if the intent to breastfeed impacted the outcome of breastfeeding and postpartum depression. Challenges in research from the section included women who demonstrated depressive symptoms before pregnancy were less likely to breastfeed; however, they also determined that some women from that group changed their minds and initiated breastfeeding after birth (Pope & Mazmanian, 2016, p.3). These findings proved that intent to initiate breastfeeding is not an appropriate approach to determining the relationship between intention and initiation and postpartum depression because mothers change their minds during this time.
Breastfeeding has a wide range of impacts on the mother physically and emotionally. The current article found research that has proven women who do not breastfeed experience higher rates of experienced depressive symptoms (Pope & Mazmanian, 2016, p.3). Reasons for depressive symptoms can be related to negative experiences with breastfeeding, which in return, can cause early termination to breastfeed. Findings within breastfeeding and maternal mood also showed that duration of breastfeeding could impact depressive symptoms, meaning the longer duration of breastfeeding showed a decrease in experienced depressive symptoms. Pope and Mazmanian (2016) discuss the overall findings by stating, "after considering the findings collectively, the investigators postulated that breastfeeding alleviates depressive symptomology over time (p.3).
The current article review by Pope and Mazmanian (2016) used a variety of articles to determine the impact of breastfeeding and postpartum depression. The overall findings of the article review demonstrated a need for future research and how to improve research approaches to the studies, including standardized assessments, clarification on diagnosis protocols and cutoffs, the definition of breastfeeding variables, and determining the time frame of onset of symptoms. Nevertheless, the article was beneficial to decide on the current research and how breastfeeding may impact postpartum depression and potentially other maternal mood disorders.
Pope, C. J., & Mazmanian, D. (2016). Breastfeeding and postpartum depression: An overview and methodological recommendations for future research. Depression Research and Treatment, 2016, 1-9. doi:10.1155/2016/4765310
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