Becoming a new parent can be incredible, amazing, and ebautiful. But sometimes, things just don’t go the way you had expected. Many people admit to stopping breastfeeding earlier than they had wished to. Research has shown that using Mindful Breastfeeding tools can increase the chances of achieving your breastfeeding goals, but how and why?
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzz word in recent years – and for good reason. In simple terms, mindfulness is being attentive to the present moment. It’s about not worrying about the past or future. It’s not judging or labelling things as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but bringing awareness to your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and surroundings as they present themselves. This allows people to reduce their negative thinking, improve their focus and increase their awareness. It allows you to remain calm, centred and connected.
The NHS promotes mindfulness practises to improve mental wellbeing, manage stress and help with long-term conditions. But what has this got to do with breastfeeding?
The NHS promotes mindfulness practises to improve mental wellbeing, manage stress and help with long-term conditions.
Breastfeeding Doesn’t Always Come Naturally
We are often led to believe that breastfeeding is the most natural way to feed your baby. That can create the false expectation that it will come naturally. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case. Around 80-90% of feeding parents report breastfeeding problems. In the UK, only about 1% of families are still exclusively breastfeeding at six months.
80-90% feeding parents reporting breastfeeding problems
In our fast-paced, instant-fix, multiple-option world, it can be easy to forgot that breastfeeding is one of the most intimate and natural connections between mother and baby – but it still takes practise, hard-work and perseverance.
Breastfeeding Grief Exists
For those families who achieve their feeding goals there is a sense of achievement, pride and joy in what their body and their baby can do. However, for those who struggle physically, mentally or emotionally, there can be a sense of failure, anxiety and grief. Studies show that as many as 65% women report that their breastfeeding struggles had a negative impact on their mental health.
When used alongside breastfeeding, mindfulness can improve not only the feeding relationship but, most importantly, the physiological act of milk production and transference. In order for breastfeeding to happen, parents have to be in a state of relative calm which allows oxytocin (the ‘love’ hormone) to flow. When oxytocin is released the milk supply is boosted, leading to larger and longer feeds for baby which in turn reduces stress for the feeding parent.
In order for breastfeeding to happen, parents have to be in a state of relative calm which allows oxytocin (the ‘love’ hormone) to flow.
The Benefits of Mindful Breastfeeding
What are some of the key benefits of Mindful Breastfeeding?
- Enhanced bonding between baby and the feeding parent – Mindful Breastfeeding encourages parents to be fully present during feeding sessions. By being present in their body and in their surroundings, and encouraging deeper eye contact, skin-to-skin connection, and emotional co-regulation between parent and baby, the parent-child bond is strengthened, which in turn supports secure attachment development.
- Reduced stress and anxiety – It’s easy as parents, especially in the early postpartum days, to become focused or fixated on worries about milk supply, wake windows, nappies, weight gain or loss etc rather than having focus and attention on the present moment. Actively engaging in mindful breastfeeding initiates the body’s relaxation response, lowering cortisol (stress) levels and promoting the release of oxytocin, which aids both milk production and emotional well-being.
- Improved milk production and let-down response – Breastfeeding is a hormonal process as much as a physical one. When a parent is relaxed and mentally present, the body can more effectively trigger the hormonal cascades needed for milk production and transference. Stress and distraction can interfere with these natural processes, so actively engaging with mindfulness tools and techniques supports optimal breastfeeding function.
- Better recognition of baby’s cues and your body’s signals – When babies are born, they have limited capacity to tell us what they need. We spend the first months learning what their cues are, particularly when it comes to feeding. Having mindful awareness helps you tune into subtle hunger and satiety cues from your baby, as well as sensations in your own body like fullness, let-down, or positioning needs. This leads to more responsive feeding relationship and greater comfort for both of you.
- Personal restoration and self-care – Rather than viewing feeding sessions as tasks to rush through, mindful breastfeeding transforms them into opportunities for rest, reflection, and emotional replenishment. This can be particularly valuable during the demanding early months of parenthood when self-care moments are precious. By engaging with things that stimulate all your senses during a feed, you can find yourself in a state of deep relaxation. Having a mindful sense box to hand for this can be great. This box could contain a few treats like snacks or sweets, some essential oils, and your favourite book. Perhaps have music playing or a TV show in the background. You could dim the lights and reduce external distractions, focusing on breathing or meditative thoughts.
These benefits work together to create a more positive and sustainable breastfeeding experience while supporting both maternal mental health and infant development.
Interested in using mindfulness alongside breastfeeding? Try the following:
- Breathe awareness
- Body scan
- Gratitude moments/Affirmations
- Sensory connection and self-care.
