Doctor Breaks Down Benefits of Breastfeeding for Both Mother and Baby

Breastfeeding is packed with benefits for both you and your baby. Let’s quickly go over why it’s such a great choice.

Breast milk is a complete meal; it has all the nutrients, calories, and fluids your baby needs. Breast milk contains omega-3 fatty acids for brain development and easily digestible proteins. Plus, breast milk naturally transforms to meet your baby's changing needs.

Breastfeeding boosts your baby's immune system with live enzymes and antibodies that adapt to protect against new germs. It also significantly reduces your risks of breast and ovarian cancer, and can ease postpartum recovery.

Unlike formula, breastfeeding helps your baby regulate their own food intake, which can prevent overeating. It also exposes them to different tastes, helping them accept various flavors as they grow.

The bonding from breastfeeding releases hormones that enhance emotional connection and support your physical and mental recovery post-birth. For example, breastfeeding helps the uterus shrink back to size, and it may also help prevent postpartum depression.

Breastfeeding is convenient, too. You can feed your baby anywhere, anytime, making it simple and cost-effective.

Additionally, breastfeeding is likely the most efficient way to help your infant fall asleep. It contains hormones, peptides, amino acids, and other compounds that all promote sleepiness. For example, at night the breast milk contains more of the hormone melatonin, which helps regulate sleep-wake cycles. The presence of higher melatonin levels in nighttime breast milk can help the baby establish better sleep patterns and fall asleep more easily.

When you're breastfeeding, you also get the bonus of skin-to-skin contact and a sense of safety and connection. If you are bottle feeding (with formula or breast milk), it helps to mimic breastfeeding by allowing skin to skin and holding your baby close to you.

Breastfeeding isn’t just feeding; it’s a powerful way to nurture and protect your baby, supporting both mom and baby on this special journey.

Breastfeeding is an incredible voyage that can be both rewarding and challenging. Let's talk about how to make it as smooth as possible.

First, ensure a good latch to avoid pain and to make breastfeeding effective. If you're struggling, don't hesitate to reach out for help from a lactation consultant. They can offer tremendous support.

Chiropractic care can also help with breastfeeding. Through gentle and precise adjustments, a trained chiropractor can address physical and neurological issues that may be hindering your infant’s ability to suckle effectively. By improving alignment, relieving tension, and ensuring optimal nervous system function, chiropractic care can help infants feed more effectively and comfortably.

Using a well-designed nursing pillow, like the bbhugme, can help make breastfeeding more comfortable as well. A breastfeeding pillow provides both you and your baby with proper support. It adjusts to fit your body and offers the right elevation, making breastfeeding easier.

Each baby may have a preference, so feel free to experiment with different positions to find your perfect fit. The right position and tools can significantly enhance your feeding experience.

Remember, breastfeeding is more than nourishment; it’s also comfort and connection. Trust yourself, and know that every bit of love and comfort you provide is building a stronger bond with your baby.

Breastfeeding is a journey that you and your baby will navigate together. With the right support and knowledge, it can be one of the most fulfilling aspects of parenthood.

No matter how you feed, burping your baby is key to reducing discomfort from air swallowed during feeding. You can hold your baby upright against your chest, with their head over your shoulder, or sit them on your lap, supporting their chest and head as you gently pat their back.

Partner and family support can play a crucial role in helping a mother succeed in breastfeeding. Here are some specific ways they can assist:

• Regularly offer words of encouragement and affirmation to boost the mother’s confidence. Be available to listen to her concerns, frustrations, and successes without judgment. Show understanding and patience, recognizing that breastfeeding can be challenging and requires time to establish.
• Take on additional household chores such as cooking, cleaning, and grocery shopping to allow the mother more time to focus on breastfeeding and rest. Prepare healthy meals to ensure the mother is well-nourished. Choose foods rich in natural fats, proteins, and carbs. Think of foods that have seen the sun, not those heavily processed in factories.
• Help the breastfeeding mother stay hydrated. Hydration is crucial, so breastfeeding mothers need to drink plenty of water.
• Bring the baby to the mother for nighttime feedings and help with burping the baby afterward. Take turns watching the baby to allow the mother to get some sleep between feedings.
• Help with the care of older siblings, including taking them to school, helping with homework, and engaging in activities to give the mother and baby uninterrupted time for breastfeeding.
• Help the mother get comfortable and assist with positioning the baby for a proper latch. Offer and adjust nursing pillows or other supports to help her maintain a comfortable posture during breastfeeding sessions.
• Help identify and address any breastfeeding issues by researching solutions or seeking advice from lactation consultants and pediatric chiropractors or other therapists. Partners and family members can educate themselves about breastfeeding techniques, challenges, and benefits to provide informed support.
• Foster a positive and supportive home environment that promotes relaxation and reduces stress for the breastfeeding mother.
• Support the mother’s decision to breastfeed in public. Defend her in front of other family members or friends who may offer unsolicited advice or criticism.
• Encourage the mother to take breaks and practice self-care by offering to watch the baby while she takes a bath, naps, or engages in a relaxing activity. Oxytocin, often called the "love hormone," is essential for milk production and making breastfeeding easier. Simple pleasures like warm showers, cuddles with her baby or partner, massages, and even quiet 'alone time' can significantly enhance the new mother's emotional well-being.
• Remind her that it's OK to breastfeed on demand and even breastfeed to sleep. Don't worry about forming habits now; focus on providing comfort and security.

By sharing responsibilities, offering encouragement, and being actively involved in the breastfeeding journey, partners, family, and friends can help the mother feel more confident and less stressed, contributing to successful breastfeeding.

In Norway, we were three female pediatric chiropractors who teamed up to start a franchise of clinics focused on caring for pregnant women and children. Over time, we noticed how much our pregnant patients struggled to find comfort, especially when trying to sleep.

Postpartum, there was a clear need for a good positioning and support pillow. This is how our idea for bbhugme was born. Our patients needed a tool they could take home.

The larger pregnancy pillow was our first creation. We designed it with a tie-around feature, which also makes it suitable for nursing. Its success led us to recognize the need for a more portable version of bbhugme that new parents could easily bring with them.

Thus, the bbhugme nursing pillow was developed. The smaller pillow retains all the benefits of the original — it's adjustable and can be tied around the waist for customized height. It supports various nursing positions, such as cradle-hold, laid-back nursing, side-lying, and bottle feeding. When you're not feeding the baby, it is also perfect for bonding time. Ideal for new parents on the go, it comes with a travel bag, making it easy to take anywhere.

Our goal has always been to make life a bit easier, especially during those precious moments when you are feeding your baby, ensuring you have good support in all the right places.

Using a nursing pillow offers numerous benefits for both mother and baby during breastfeeding.

Many new mothers struggle with poor feeding positions, often finding themselves with high shoulders, looking down, bending forward, and lacking support. This can lead to stress and pain over time.

An adjustable nursing pillow can provide much-needed comfort for both mom and baby. A good nursing pillow helps with the proper positioning of your baby. Elevating the baby to the correct height for breastfeeding can make it easier for the baby to latch on properly. This is crucial for effective breastfeeding and reducing nipple soreness for the mother.

A good nursing pillow also facilitates close physical contact between the mother and baby, enhancing bonding and emotional connection.

Using a nursing pillow like bbhugme can significantly enhance the breastfeeding experience.

The bbhugme nursing pillow is uniquely moldable; with the BPA-free pebbles, you can adjust the firmness to fit your needs. This enables more comfortable and sustainable positioning, making it easier to breastfeed for longer periods without fatigue.

Dr. Ann Kristin Homdrum is a chiropractor who specializes in pediatrics and women's health. She is a cofounder of bbhugme, which offers supportive pregnancy and nursing pillows. You can follow her at @natural_born_parenting and @bbhugme.