Myths: Stress, Weight Loss & Breastfeeding

Myths: Stress, Weight Loss & Breastfeeding

Myth 1: Stress and Breastfeeding

One of the most common myths about stress and breastfeeding is that women who are experiencing stress ‘lose’ their breastmilk. This is not true.

Stress does not affect the hormone that makes breastmilk which is called Prolactin but it does have a short-term effect on the other important breastfeeding hormone called Oxytocin.

What this means is that the milk is still all there inside the breasts ready for the baby and ready to be made in response to the baby feeding, but the let-down reflex which starts the milk flowing is temporarily stopped. The World Health Organisation explains this as a positive mechanism that stops milk flowing at difficult moments – for example when an early human mother was fleeing with her baby from a wild animal – it is helpful that the milk does not start flowing while running but once mother and baby are safe and sheltered the milk flow starts again when the baby goes to the breast.

Everyone is highly likely to be stressed during and after an emergency and disaster situation. Breastfeeding is an amazingly adaptive activity designed to win through despite everything. All a breastfeeding mother has to do is put the baby to the breast frequently and have lots of contact with the baby and the milk flow will start again. Being comforted and receiving support helps mothers. Breastfeeding will help promote healing and calmness.

Myth 2: Weight loss and breastfeeding

Losing weight will rarely cause a problem for breastfeeding. As mentioned before breastfeeding is an amazingly adaptive and resilient process.

Mothers who lose weight or who are thin will still produce breastmilk and also breastmilk that is of a good enough quality for their babies. Severe starvation may make breastfeeding difficult but this represents a less likely scenario for most emergency situations in New Zealand.

One of the priority adult population groups to receive food supplies during emergencies should be breastfeeding mothers, so milk supply is one thing that mothers should not worry about. It’s all about feeding the mothers who then feed their babies.

Women’s bodies adjust differently when breastfeeding and start to utilise nutrients in food more efficiently anyway – even in times when breastfeeding is not part of an emergency situation.

No special foods are necessary to breastfeed.

Mothers also do not need to avoid certain foods to breastfeed – eat whatever is available.

Breastfeeding mothers do not need extra fluids – but drink safely when thirsty whenever possible.