What Nobody Tells You About Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not as easy as baby plus nipple. This can trigger many unexpected biological quirks and emotional reactions, leaving many new parents stumped. Here are some common breastfeeding examples that you may not have heard of, compiled by young moms and women’s health experts.
Not everyone likes to talk about breastfeeding, but it’s a fairly common part of life. Unfortunately, since it can sometimes be perceived as taboo, there are many things you may not know about, and knowing them ahead of time can help you prepare. Here’s what you need to know.
Burns calories
Experts estimate that it takes about 500 calories to produce the 24-28 ounces of breast milk that the average mother makes every day. This is the calorie equivalent of a large brownie (or, if you are eating a healthier food, about 20 medium carrots). It is typical to burn 200 to 500 extra calories daily for milk production.
Breastfeeding alone is usually not enough to reduce the weight remaining after pregnancy, but along with exercise and a healthy diet, the amount of excess calories burned does increase.
Your nipples can hurt a lot
Breastfeeding may sound easy, but it can be quite painful for the first few weeks or months. It can take time to get the baby to do anything, let alone to properly attach the breast to the breast, and the typical 8–12 newborn feeds per day can make a woman feel sore and sore on her nipples. Discomfort can range from mild soreness to chapped and bleeding skin. Combine this pain with the fatigue and fatigue of caring for (and feeding) a newborn, and you begin to realize how difficult a nursing mother’s job is.
Most women find their breasts become stiff after about two weeks, but it is important to get the baby to latch on properly and see a doctor if the pain persists, especially between feedings.
Both partners can sexualize it.
While a breastfeeding woman’s breasts play a very different role as a source of nutrition for a newborn, things may not have changed much for her partner. Chances are, your partner is especially fond of these breasts, and seeing them – even with a child attached to them – is still arousing. If this sounds strange to you, feel free to tell your partner not to watch. But if not, you can welcome company and attention as you feed.
Breastfeeding mothers can get aroused too. Sexual arousal while breastfeeding is common, albeit confusing. Many women enjoy breast stimulation in their sex lives long before they have a baby, and erogenous zones just don’t stop feeling good when touched.
It is important to note that the physical arousal a woman may experience is separate from all the emotional arousal she experiences towards her child. Again, this is incredibly common despite being a taboo topic for obvious reasons.
Breastfeeding can cause seizures
Sucking on the baby triggers the release of the hormones oxytocin and prolactin, and oxytocin causes the uterus to contract . Although these cramps (also called “postpartum pain”) are uncomfortable, they are normal and necessary for the uterus to contract to its prenatal size.
Bigger breasts don’t mean more milk
When it comes to milk production , it is the mammary glands that are important, not the size of the breasts (most of the breasts are just fatty tissue). A woman with an A cup can produce the same amount of milk as a woman with a double D; it simply has less adipose tissue compared to glandular tissue. There are other evolutionary reasons why men may be attracted to large breasts.
If you hear a baby cry, your breasts may start to leak.
The release of breast milk, called therelaxation reflex , usually occurs after the baby has sucked for about two minutes. Sucking triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates milk production. Some women experience a relaxing tingling or warmth reflex.
But stimuli other than sucking can trigger oxytocin production, including emotional stimuli, such as looking at a photo of your baby, thinking about it, or listening to your baby’s tape. Sometimes, even hearing any baby cry, not just your own, can trigger a sensitive, relaxing reflex.
Breastfeeding Can Make You High
Many women report that they enter a relaxed and calm state while breastfeeding, which helps them bond with their babies. Others even say they experience euphoria – high breastfeeding rates caused by the release of the hormones oxytocin and prolactin caused by the baby’s sucking. Some people call this “milk drinking.”
Some argue that it can be addictive. There isn’t a lot of research to support this, but some women swear they become addicted because of the good feelings it creates (and the calories burned). Penelope Cruz once said it was “addictive. It’s hard when the day comes when you need to stop. “
You can still do this if you have breast implants or nipple piercings.
Many women with breast implants can still breastfeed successfully. Incisions made through the armpit or under the breast tend to interfere with breastfeeding the least, while incisions around the areola can exacerbate feeding problems, including nipple tenderness or blocked milk ducts. When the implant is placed below the pectoral muscle, the mammary glands are usually left intact for later feeding.
While women should not breastfeed with the nipple jewelry inserted, the remaining hole should not interfere with breastfeeding. Breast milk actually comes from many orifices at once; an additional one that you added yourself will not cause problems. However, new piercings carry an increased risk of infection, so make sure they heal completely before trying to breastfeed.