Why I have become a breastfeeding support volunteer?
I was surprised to learn from a patient how many times she had thought about giving up breastfeeding her baby but homeopathy had enabled her to continue. She said it would be brilliant if there were more people who knew how effective homeopathy can be at this vital time of life for mother and baby.
Thanks to her I embarked on my training to be a support worker for Breast Buddies Perth and Kinross and have spent many hours absorbing information about the benefits and challenges of breastfeeding and getting up to date with the information which has changed since I stopped feeding many years ago.
Why is breastfeeding important?
Knowing what I am learning now I am keener than ever to do what I can to normalise, protect and promote breastfeeding. The World Health Organisation recommends babies are exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age. This is because breastmilk is considered the very best food a baby can get. Shockingly in the UK, despite 80% of mums breastfeeding after birth only 1% of mothers are still exclusively breastfeeding at six months. The UK has one of the lowest rates of breastfeeding in the world.
Reasons for stopping breastfeeding
Women stop breastfeeding their babies for many reasons - we know some of these are mastitis, soreness, going back to work, milk production issues and going in to hospital but embarrassingly for us as a nation - feeling socially awkward and jealousy of the father are frequently cited. Stopping breastfeeding when you want to carry on can put you at risk for mental health problems.
According to a study carried out in Minnesota “It may lead to feelings of inadequacy and failure which can then aggravate self-criticism and depression.”(1)
Benefits for baby and mother
According to the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers:
Breastfed toddlers are ill less often and when they do become ill, they tend to cope better and recover more quickly.
Breastfeeding provides immunity which is especially important in the first few weeks of life but continues to benefit your child for as long as you continue to breastfeed, and for many years afterwards.
A child’s immune system develops very slowly and isn’t completely mature until around the age of six, so extended breastfeeding will offer vital protection through this stage. In fact studies have shown that many of the immune factors passed on through your breastmilk actually increase in concentration in the second year.1
Breastfeeding also helps to prevent allergies. What is more, in families susceptible to allergies, continuing to breastfeed while babies start eating potentially allergenic foods has been found to offer protection.(2)
It’s not just the baby who benefits:
Studies have found that the longer you breastfeed for, the lower your risk of certain types of cancer.
While breastfeeding, you might have a small reduction of bone mineral. However, when you eventually stop, your body can actually build your bones back stronger. Meaning many mums will actually have a higher bone mineral density than before - making breastfeeding mothers less at risk from fractures and osteoporosis.(3)
Homeopathy can help you continue to breastfeed
Since I started my training in 2007 the use of homeopathy for babies and mums has been a particular passion of mine. It helped me so much on my own journey I want to be able to offer people the same help I had. Since opening my practice I have helped women with post natal depression, mastitis, helping to reduce or increase milk levels, thrush and pelvic floor issues.
Given the symbiotic nature of their relationship, often the best way to help mum is to help her baby and homeopathic medicine is a gentle and non toxic tool for helping to deal with colic, ear infections, sleep issues, constipation, croup and all those times when you know something’s not right but your baby is too small to tell you what it is. Because homeopathy treats the symptoms - not the diagnosis - all I need to know is what has changed.
Many mothers find homeopathy easy to use and armed with a kit can treat minor ailments before they become worse. I run courses through the year to help you get the most out of these kits.
The most important aspect of my work with new mothers though is support. Babies are one thing to take on but alongside them come all the people who support and don’t support you. At the same time your hormones are in a whole zone of their own and this heady cocktail of your new life can be enormously overwhelming.
The first appointment with me lasts an hour. In that time I will truly listen to what it is that is bothering you. Homeopathic remedies are the most effective thing I have come across for helping bring balance back to a person's life and on top of this I complete many hours of training in nutrition to keep on top of which supplements may or may not be helpful.
Homeopathy can prevent the need for Antibiotics
There is growing concern about the damage to the gut for all of us from antibiotics but in new babies they can strip the gut of helpful microbes.
In a study led by the University of Edinburgh “A change in 251 of 695 different bacteria investigated was observed after treatment, changing the balance between good and bad bacteria in favour of more potentially harmful microbes.” A year later this study showed the microbiome did recover but breastfeeding made no difference. Professor Debby Bogaert, Chair of Paediatric Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and study lead, said: “We were surprised with the magnitude and duration of the effects of broad spectrum antibiotics on the infants’ microbiome when compared to effects of those same antibiotics on adults’ microbiota. This is likely because the antibiotic treatment is given at a time that infants have just received their first microbes from their mother and have not yet developed a resilient microbiome.(4)
This study was carried out on babies with suspected sepsis in their first week, but antibiotic use even by the mother later on in that first year, while breastfeeding can have a big impact on the baby’s gut.
If you have signs of sepsis antibiotics are life-saving. Fever or low body temperature, chills, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, confusion, and pale, blotchy, or blue skin are a massive red flag and you should get to hospital as quickly as possible.
Most infections start days before you get to this stage. Homeopathy is best used to prevent infection in the first place. If you have had an operation or injury, remedies can help a healthy recovery. If there is an infection, I have seen Homeopathy, used at the first indication - such as inflammation, pain or feeling a bit run-down - completely turn things around. The right remedy will work immediately in this case - I’ve watched infections recede within minutes of taking a remedy. You see the relief as the inflammation calms down. I’ve seen a few cases of Mastitis healed like this - but the best time to use homeopathy is in the early stages - or while you phone for an ambulance.
Infections in new mothers and newborns can come rapidly and prove fatal if not treated urgently.
A gentle stop
When you are ready to end your breastfeeding journey, homeopathy has helped many women at this often emotionally and sometimes physically challenging transition. Likewise, if you’re not ready, - as a breastfeeding support volunteer I can point you in the direction of practical advice which can help you to keep going - Like this video on helping your baby to latch correctly so there is no pain.
Where to find me
I will be at Strathearn Community Centre in Crieff on a Monday morning from 10-12. Always happy to answer questions about homeopathy but as a Breast Buddies Perth and Kinross Volunteer my role is to listen, to share useful information and refer mums and babies to the approved professionals if they are in need of more assistance.
Creating a supportive environment where mums can breastfeed easily is the responsibility of everyone. Babies need lots of care and attention but so do new mums. Bring her a drink, make sure she eats, clean the house or take baby for a walk while she sleeps.
When you've finished this blog - please watch this powerful little video. This is why I'm committed to helping raise that number of 1% of babies still being exclusively breastfed at 6 months.
Some helpful breastfeeding organisations:
National Breastfeeding Helpline – 0300 100 0212
Association of Breastfeeding Mothers – 0300 330 5453 https://abm.me.uk
La Leche League – 0345 120 2918 https://laleche.org.uk
National Childbirth Trust (NCT) – 0300 330 0700 https://www.nct.org.uk
Association of tongue-tie practitioners www.tongue-tie.org.uk
References
1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8960332/#:~:text=These results are confirmed by studies which,oxytocin levels are present at 8 weeks
Thank you Caroline! You definitely saved my breastfeeding journey, after all the doctors told me six months was plenty and it would be fine to give up. I’ve met so many mums who had the same issue as me (thrush) and gave up and are so resentful now. After trying everything I went to see you and within hours, the pain had gone. Having that remedy stashed away ensured I kept feeding until my baby went to school. We’re both super grateful and he is the healthiest child!