How A Mother Should Feel While Breastfeeding

How a mother should feel while breastfeeding is a topic not often discussed in social gatherings, not even amongst close friends. The reason I chose this topic is because I am a professionally breastfeeding consultant. The link at the bottom is a professionally written first person account of my experience receiving and sampling breast milk.

In order to get a better understanding of the nature of breastfeeding, a mother must ask herself, why am I doing this? Why can't I just use formula, it's easier and less hassle. Who wants to be inconvenienced with having to sit down with a baby and then waste time feeding it? If I give the baby a bottle, then I can do other things, like cooking and cleaning.

After interviewing several mothers in Japan many have told me that in general they like to wean their newborns off milk as soon as possible. Often times this is due to them having to work or assume other duties. The problem here is obviously time. If you do not have the time nor the patience then do not breastfeed. This is because babies need time to latch, and you need to be able to understand the baby's needs and how it latches. I learned these things when I assumed the role as receiver. Like a baby, I had to understand how to make the milk come out through suckling, not by using my hands. No verbal communication except baby sounds were permitted.

The mother would then apply pressure to her own breast in order to get the milk to release in rhythm with the babies sucks - my sucking. I was able to achieve this after 5 minutes and I think the reason why was the eye contact that was established early on in the preparation stages. Breastfeeding is an intimate activity, even for real babies. It required skin contact, embracing, and being in close proximity to each other for extended periods of time.

What a mother should feel is pure joy in that she is providing the best possible nourishment for her child, and also that she is bonding with her baby at the same time. The mother should feel relaxed and confident. A lot of mothers bring up the confidence issue when they are talking with me about breastfeeding. Many fear that their milk will be rejected by the baby, or they feel that their milk will not taste good. There are also feelings of inadequacy, which may be a cultural stigma.

Some mothers wean their babies off early because they feel that over attachment is not good for the baby, and that it will grow up over dependent on its mother. What you want to take from this essay is that breastfeeding good for both mother and baby. It's good because you are bonding, and through bonding you are forming a vital connection between mother and baby.

Try to relax, set aside an hour of your time a day. Play some soft music and be patient. Feeling confident is what you need to be affirming and reaffirming as you breastfeed. You are nurturing the baby. You are feeling the baby's warmth and listening to it breath. It is a beautiful feeling and experience.