Breastfeeding and Natural Birth

Natural Birth is a platform to successful breastfeeding.

If you are considering breastfeeding, please read the wonderful article by Judith A. Lothian. A natural or non-medicated birth absolutely provides the best platform for a mother and babies breastfeeding journey.

Of course, Mums that have medicated births are completely able to breastfeed successfully, but some drugs and procedures can inhibit the natural flow of birth and may interfere with the natural bonding and breastfeeding process. In a medicated birth, skin to skin bonding is of unequivocal importance helping with breastfeeding.




To highlight the key points in Lothians article:

1. Babies are naturally designed to feed from their mother's breast and women are designed with breasts to feed their children.

2. Medication can interfere with the cocktail of birthing hormones which are released at birth. This can mean both mother and baby are less alert at the time of birth - a crucial time for establishing the first feed.

3. Epidural may have neuro-behavioural effects on the baby - i.e. problems can occur with latching and coordination of sucking.

4. Instrumental birth (forceps/ventouse) can result in birth trauma which can impede breastfeeding.

5. Over zealous newborn care practices and separation of mum and baby at birth may result in interfering with the babies natural ability to root, suckle and feed.



Lothian says "Nature perfectly prepares the baby for breastfeeding. The baby is born competent and capable and ready to breastfeed. He instinctively roots and sucks. When placed skin-to-skin on his mother's chest, he instinctively crawls and self-attaches to her breast, in just the right way. He sees and smells, and these senses help guide him to the breast. When held in his mother's arms or placed skin-to-skin, he instinctively throws back his head and opens his mouth wide—the perfect positioning for an effective latch. Babies are born ready and eager to breastfeed....We are just beginning to understand and appreciate how women's bodies prepare for breastfeeding during pregnancy, how what happens during labour and birth sets the stage for breastfeeding, and how the first minutes and hours after birth affect breastfeeding. The way the birth proceeds powerfully influences the first hours and days of breastfeeding. Normal, natural birth sets the stage for problem-free breastfeeding—what nature intended—while a complicated, intervention-intensive labour and birth set the stage for problems."

The Birth of a Breastfeeding Baby and Mother