What is mindful breastfeeding and how it affect the milk flow?
A new mother often struggles to breastfeed her baby during initial days. It is common and understandable situation that most people would agree. When breastfeeding is not going smooth, it brings stress and disheartens the mothers. They start thinking negatively and develop the depressive feeling. There is no doubt about the fact that babies need to feed, grow, and develop and every parent take their baby as a responsibility.
In the major shift, parents stop focusing on the minor but most important part, i.e., their emotions that greatly impact the quality of breast milk. The calmer mother would be able to develop a stronger spiritual connection with her baby.
What is a mindful breastfeeding?
Mindful breastfeeding is the term used when a mother is conscious of her emotions. A conscious mother works on her emotions and remains calm during her breastfeeding journey to nurture her baby best. She knows that her positive or negative emotions can impact her baby’s health. So, to avoid stress and anxiety, she chooses positive emotions like joy, love, and kindness to share with her baby.
How stress, anxiety, and fear depreciate the quality of the breast milk?
Emotions have the power to change the levels of oxytocin in breast milk. Oxytocin is the love hormone that makes the mother and baby feel happy. That’s why Yogymummy says “A happy mother makes a happy baby with her magic of love. If you are happy, your happy hormones will get delivered to your baby through your breast milk when you feed.” Good vibes will also initiate the milk supply flow. A stressed mother will not be able to release the milk due to less count of oxytocin.
Your relaxed mood will decide the mood of the baby and the family, so mums need to let the stress and anxiety go with deep breaths and let the oxytocin flow work.
You may also want to know how environment impacts your baby brain.
Is there any natural food to increase breast milk supply?
If your breast milk supply is low and you don’t know how to increase it? Keep reading this article further.
In Ayurveda, there are several herbs and concoctions that our rishi munis used to prepare for breastfeeding mothers. These herbs and concoctions help new mothers to enhance their milk supply and feed their babies. Since the milk supply depends on the levels of oxytocin hormone of the mother, there is an herb Shatavari that is a boon to nursing mothers. The herb is effective in enhancing milk production in new mums as it helps regulate and maintain the hormonal balance in their bodies. It is easy to consume- a mother can take it by mixing in a glass of water. For a proper prescription, she may need to contact an Ayurvedic practitioner.
Other than shatavari, there are fennel seeds, fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, oatmeal, jaggery, and dry coriander seeds can be consumed by nursing mother in limited amount. New mums can even try healthy Sattu drink to promote their energy levels.
Can naturopathy be helpful in mindful breastfeeding?
Yes, naturopathy is helpful in relieving stress and depressive feeling. There is special oil massage that can be fruitful for a nursing mother.
You need olive oil or almond oil as base oil and put shredded ginger into it.
Take 4-5 tablespoons of oil and 1 tablespoon of shredded ginger in a glass bowl. Keep this oil under direct sunlight for 3 days and then use it for massaging your breast to increase the milk supply. This will help in making the breast muscles stronger and flexible which will ultimately enhance the functioning of the milk ducts. In case the nursing mother feels pain during massage for the initial stage, keep continuing the procedure. However, if the pain remains persistent during your mindful breastfeeding practice, visit the doctor.
About the Author- Ankita (Yogymummy) is a Naturopath and yoga practitioner. She is giving yoga sessions for general fitness to prenatal care across the world. She is a talented gold medalist in Yoga. She started her spiritual journey at the age of 14. She loves creative writing and has given 8 years to the IT sector as a content writer.
