The Internal Pressure to Measure Up When Breastfeeding
August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week
The theme of this year is "Closing the gap: Breastfeeding Support for All", which aims to encourage perinatal providers to help eliminate factors that are barriers in breastfeeding and supporting mothers in being able to continue breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding/bodyfeeding frequently has a direct impact on one’s mental health.
According to Moorea Malatt, LEC, PMH-C, on the Postpartum Support International website, there are five main areas where breast/chestfeeding babies can be a risk factor for postpartum anxiety and depression:
The fourth risk factor: The internal pressure to measure up
People are more likely to develop a postpartum mental health condition if they expected themselves to breastfeed, and then experienced challenges impacting them from doing so; compared to their counterparts, who knew going into postpartum they would supplement with formula, when needed, or wanted to solely feed with formula.
What is best for the infant is also the mental wellness of their caregivers! Malatt writes, “Some families struggling with lactation may need to downgrade from “optimal nutrition” to “just fine” nutrition in favor of upgrading to “mentally well parent.”
Women are often encouraged to play the martyr and put others’ needs, especially their baby’s, before their own. However, oftentimes, neither the mother or the baby benefit from this over the long term. It is simply not sustainable.
Every child deserves a healthy and well parent. Every parent deserves to feel healthy and well.
Whatever your feeding journey needs to look like in order to ensure your health and wellness is more than OK.
If any of this information resonates with you, there are resources to support you in your feeding journey:
Postpartum Support International Support Group - When Breastfeeding and Bodyfeeding Ends Before You Are Ready
Postpartum Support International Therapist Directory
La Leche League website
National Breastfeeding Helpline (1-800-994-9662)
WIC Breastfeeding Support website
