The ‘downside’ of breast-feeding

In certain ways breast-feeding is more of a constraint than bottle-feeding. So what is the downside, the possible difficulties and reasons for not breast-feeding?

Some new mums can be quite put off by the thought of breast-feeding. For example, breast-feeding means that mum needs to available all the time, especially at nights. That being said, once the breast-feeding routine is stable, nothing prevents baby getting the odd bottle-feed of expressed or formula milk to let mum off the hook…

There is also the question of ‘leaks’ – unsightly stains sneaking through on clothing as your milk does its own thing. However, you can get protection in the way of little cup covers or cotton pads so your leaks aren’t a public happening! 

Does breast-feeding ruin your breasts?

Many women worry about the beauty of their breasts, thinking that breast-feeding causes sagging… But it’s not breast-feeding that spoils the breasts, rather the rapid changes in breast size that cause unsightly stretch marks and skin tissue lesions.

It’s therefore important that you don’t put on too much weight during your pregnancy and that you wear a good supporting bra. Preventing breast engorgement during lactation, and gradual weaning will help the breast to keep adjust their size with minimal damage to the breast tissue.

Breast-feeding and your sexuality…

Women who are reticent to breast-feed sometimes have underlying deeper reasons, not often admitted to and rarely brought up by medical professionals. Some of these issues involve sexuality. The breast is both a sexual and maternal organ, and holds an important place in a woman’s identity.

Some women (or their partners) find it hard to accept that her breasts can be used both sexually and maternally. Some women mistakenly think that breast-feeding impedes a return of sexual relations. In other cases, breast-feeding itself can provoke erotic sensations, which can cause mixed emotions in some women – while some are comfortable with and enjoy the feelings, others will even stop breast-feeding altogether.

Some rare medical counter-indications for breast-feeding

Counter-indications are quite rare and most occasional minor illnesses (cold, flu, sore throat…) don’t have any effect on the quality or quantity of breast milk. This does however mean that you would however have to forego some types of treatment, or take a specially adapted treatment, if you needed treatment while breast-feeding.

However, lactose intolerance, congenital galactosemia, certain serious disorders (AIDS, tuberculosis, digestive deformities…) are counter-indications for breast-feeding. If you suffer from any chronic medical condition, you should talk to your doctor about breast-feeding.

Dr Lyonel Rossant, Dr Jacqueline Rossant-Lumbroso

Copyright © 2011 Doctissimo

Posted 29.03.2011

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