Feeling stressed or anxious Stress is the No. 1 killer of breastmilk supply, especially in the first few weeks after delivery. Between lack of sleep and adjusting to the baby's schedule, rising levels of certain hormones such as cortisol can dramatically reduce your milk supply.
The women who reported higher levels of negative affect and/or anxiety (as measured with the POMS scales of tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue, and confusion) had lower levels of breast milk IgA.
Studies have shown that breast milk from distressed mothers may contain higher levels of cortisol. As your stress level rises, the level of cortisol in your breast milk also increases.
Anxious mothers may pass the stress hormone cortisol on to their babies through breast milk — but how does it affect infant development?
Mother who does not wake up (drugs, alcohol, medication); Breast injury/bad breastfeeding position; Misuse of the teat (less efficient stimulation); Poor nutrition of the mother (less than 1500 calories per day).
Genetic background, climate, diseases, feeding, year and season of calving have been reported to affect milk production, lactation length and dry period [2, 3]. Breed, age, stage of lactation, parity and milking frequency also influence performance production [2, 3].
The cortisol in a mother's body can also end up in her milk. Babies appear to be remarkably sensitive to the hormone as they nurse. Scientists have found that drinking milk causes infants to rapidly build receptors in their intestines for detecting cortisol. The same shift doesn't happen when babies drink formula.
After birth and during lactation, mothers can still transfer physiological signals to the infant through the biological constituents of breast milk (Hinde et al., 2014), including cortisol. Cortisol concentrations are transferred from plasma to breast milk, as there is no mammary synthesis of cortisol (Hamosh, 2001).
When you are scared, stressed, or anxious, the adrenaline released by your system can inhibit oxytocin. And since oxytocin is what causes your milk to “let down”, or flow freely from your breasts, that adrenaline messes with your milk delivery system. Stress and breastfeeding just don't mix well.
Studies have shown that infants as young as one month-old sense when a parent is depressed or angry and are affected by the parent's mood. Understanding that even infants are affected by adult emotions can help parents do their best in supporting their child's healthy development.
Study Shows Babies Can Catch It from Their Mothers. Babies not only pick up on their mother's stress, but they also show corresponding physiological changes, according to a UC San Francisco-led study.
Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex or D-MER, is a collection of negative emotions—anxiety, depression, anger—experienced by some breastfeeding mothers just before they have a milk let-down (milk ejection reflex). These feelings last for a few minutes.
When women breastfeed, dopamine (a hormone associated with reward) levels decrease for prolactin (milk producing hormone) levels to rise. Heise suggests that, for some women, dopamine drops excessively, and the resulting deficit causes a range of symptoms, including anxiety, anger and self-loathing.
During breastfeeding, your baby's tongue pushes up on your nipple, which signals the release of oxytocin. This oxytocin causes your breast tissue to contract and let milk down into the ducts and out the nipple. It's during this letdown that some women experience a severe dip in their mood.
Hypothyroxinemia may contribute to both perinatal mood disorders and low milk supply. Gestation in the setting of maternal depression or anxiety may affect infant temperament and delay oromotor development, which can impede the infant's ability to latch and lead to breastfeeding difficulties.
Many mothers feel guilty for breastfeeding their baby for comfort or as they drift off to sleep. Breastfeeding your child to sleep and for comfort is not a bad thing to do– in fact, it's normal, healthy, and developmentally appropriate.
According to studies, breastfeeding is the most powerful form of interaction between the mother and the infant. Due to the physical closeness, the baby is more close to the mother than to anyone else in the family.
stop making milk
For most bereaved mothers, when their milk comes in, they begin the very difficult process of helping their body to stop producing milk. You may be surprised by the sudden engorgement you will feel when your milk comes in, and how quickly you may become physically uncomfortable.
The amount of milk a cow produces depends largely on the environment it's in. It's all about comfort: The more comfortable the cow, the more milk it will produce. The less comfortable the cow, the less productive it is.
Feeling stressed or anxious
Between lack of sleep and adjusting to the baby's schedule, rising levels of certain hormones such as cortisol can dramatically reduce your milk supply.
Breastfeeding frequently—especially in the first hours, days, and weeks—is the main way to increase your milk supply. Your body will make milk to meet your baby's demand.
In short, you should pump until milk isn't coming out any more. Or, if you're trying to boost your supply, pump a little while longer after the milk stops flowing.
It's totally up to you and your comfort. If you usually go braless, you do not need to wear one during breastfeeding. Moms often have concerns about leaking a lot at night, so this may be another reason why wearing a bra at night might be helpful.