By Lucy Corkhill
30th January 2013
It can be a lonely, tough road, especially if the decision to breastfeed is not supported by partner, family or friends. Some of the key reasons women cite in deciding to give up breastfeeding are low milk supply, a fear that their baby isn’t getting enough, and a lack of support. They are then left with a mixed bag of emotions, with a feeling of failure and guilt featuring heavily.
Mother’s health
Hilary Jacobson, Nutritional Mentor, Holistic Lactation Consultant and author of Mother Food is no stranger to the stresses of low milk supply. In fact, it was over the course of breastfeeding her four children – and growing her milk supply a little more each time through an holistic approach – that the idea for the book was born. The book is an illuminating mix of Jacobson’s study of “lactogenic” foods and herbs that women have used throughout the ages and in different cultures, and promoting a mother’s full health with recipes, advice and support. Jacobsen says: ‘The central goal of Mother Food has always been to address breastfeeding issues that are linked to a baby’s apparent suffering at the breast, such as persistent hunger due to low milk supply, and pain or other symptoms due to colic, reflux, and allergy. Another goal was to include a history of “mother food”, and to explore the ways that these herbs and foods are used in other cultures and are viewed in other medical systems, such as from ancient Greece, India, and China. In addition, I wanted to provide an overview of the way that a mother’s diet in the postpartum can affect her own immune system, her physical and emotional health, her weightgain or weightloss, and also impact the well-being of her baby, his immune system, digestion, and overall development.’ Readers have described it as the book that saved them from the brink of giving up, and an invaluable source of support and comfort for them and their babies.
Herbal help
Susun Weed, wise woman and herbalist, has been supporting women to find their way back to optimum health for decades. Susun writes: ‘Dedicated to the Wise Woman tradition, I help women to learn the oldest ways of healing – together we are rediscovering the green witch/healer in each of us. My goal is to change how we think about health and healing. May we all reclaim herbal medicine as the simple, safe primary care it is; a gift of health from the green nations. My primary ally, my teacher in all things is Nature: the Earth and her many companions.’ Susun’s book Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year is full of gifts from her ally, Nature.
Susun recommends poultices, compresses and soaks as the best first aid for painful breasts. ‘A poultice consists of fresh or cooked herbs placed directly on the breasts: A compress is prepared by soaking a cloth and applying that. And a soak is just that: a soak in hot water.’ Susun also advocates feeding as often and as long as possible on the infected breast in cases of mastitis, plus the use of bee propolis, Echinacea root tincture and poke root tincture. She comments that simple hot water also helps with sore breasts, stimulating circulation and easing swollen breast tissues. Adding herbs to the water increases the effectiveness. Find out more on her vast website.
Finding support
There’s nothing like a comforting arm around your shoulder when you really hit rock bottom. Accessing breastfeeding support can be tricky but there is someone out there who understands. And, if you find that your breastfeeding journey takes off after valuable support, your experience could help other women in need. Find out how to become a breastfeeding counsellor with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers here http://abm.me.uk/about-the-abm/training-with-the-association-of-breastfeeding-mothers/ (there are other breastfeeding counsellor diplomas and courses available from different providers).
Check out these resources for help and advice:
La Leche League
National Breastfeeding Helpline
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers
National Childbirth Trust
Books worth reading:
Food of Love: Your Formula for Successful Breastfeeding by Kate Evans
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding: A La Leche League title
Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Ina May Gaskin
