Lactation PDF Print E-mail
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An inability to feed one's child properly due to poor lactation is an extremely upsetting experience for a mother. It may lead to frustration, anxiety and a sense of not being able to perform one's duty as a mother and care giver. Poor lactation can have mental and physical causes. An emotional shock, grief, loss and stress may all cause a mother's milk to simply dry up as a result of a complex interplay of hormones and emotions. Stressful circumstances can also prevent milk production altogether. The emotions induced by poor lactation add to and worsen the situation.

Although there are many benefits to breast milk, it is important to realise that if you are unable to breast feed, there are alternative ways to care for and feed your child. If you are not producing sufficient milk and are not able to correct the problem, then exploring other methods and forms of nutrition for your baby can save you a lot of emotional and mental distress. It is healthier for a baby to have a balanced, emotionally confident mother while being bottle fed, than it is to have an emotionally tense mother attempting to breast feed.The bonding that should occur during breast feeding is often destroyed by poor lactation. It is therefore imperative that a mother corrects the problem or finds other ways to bond with her child.

Physical causes of poor lactation include a blocked milk duct, through which the milk cannot escape, an inflammation of the breast(s), which also prevents the smooth draining of milk. Painful breasts (due to conditions such as mastitis) and painful nipples (due to drying, cracking and chapping), cause significant discomfort to a mother who is breast feeding, and this may make feeding time an unpleasant experience. Avoiding breast feeding may result from pain as well as feelings of fear, anxiety and a fear that one will not be able to perform correctly as a mother. Some medications may also prevent the production of breast milk. If you are unable to breast feed your baby then you should consult a healthcare practitioner for advice and help overcoming the problem causing poor lactation.