What Is Breastfeeding Anxiety And How Can It Be Counteracted?
Breastfeeding anxiety is one of the problems that can occur during breastfeeding.
This is when the mother experiences anxiety during breastfeeding and it can even make her refrain from breastfeeding her baby completely.
Breastfeeding anxiety means that the mother feels a great sense of guilt about her own need to stop breastfeeding the child.
It is considered one of the most negative situations a mother can go through, as it is an irrational feeling.
This is because the mother feels an overwhelming need to stop breastfeeding immediately.
In other cases, it occurs after breastfeeding becomes a painful procedure. And often when breastfeeding two children in tandem.
But with the right support and commitment, this obstacle can be overcome.
Why does breastfeeding anxiety occur?
Although there are many theories, it has not yet been proven what causes breastfeeding anxiety in mothers.
What is certain is that unwanted thoughts and feelings arise mainly when the baby sucks on the mother’s breast in an incorrect and painful way.
Usually these feelings disappear when the baby stops breastfeeding.
8 tips to combat breastfeeding anxiety
The following tips can help you fight breastfeeding anxiety.
Use distractions
Most mothers who have been through this situation before say that it is possible to distract themselves to overcome this obstacle along the way.
Do not let the situation take over. Therefore, you should try to think of other things.
You need to keep busy and keep your head clear to remove some of the seriousness of the situation.
2. Try to get plenty of rest
You should get as much sleep and rest as possible during this period. Fatigue can worsen your aversion to breastfeeding.
In these moments, you need to pay attention to your health and take care of yourself. Take the chance to rest when the child does.
3. Avoid stressful situations
You need to avoid all kinds of situations that cause stress. It is a complicated moment for you where you above all have to stay calm.
If you can control the stress caused by this situation, it will improve your emotional state.
Organize yourself better; for example, planning for a week ahead at a time, helps you to best deal with all situations that may arise.
4. Eat and drink properly
Do not skip meals, no matter how much you are dealing with your baby. It is at least as important for you to drink a lot and prevent dehydration. Drink plenty of water and other cold beverages.
5. Do not breastfeed in tandem
If you are breastfeeding two children, we recommend that you do not do it in tandem, ie at the same time, without breastfeeding one child at a time.
Your anxiety may increase if you breastfeed both at the same time.
6. Consider weaning
In a way, breastfeeding anxiety can be a completely normal response to the pain that breastfeeding your baby can cause.
Hormonal changes can prepare your body to signal that it’s time to wean your baby.
If you think the right time has come, you can consult a specialist on how to do it gradually and undramatically.
7. Normalize the situation
You need to normalize the situation and reinterpret this initial guilt into a positive view of the future. You are not the first or last mother to suffer from this feeling.
Of course, you are not a bad mother just because you feel finished breastfeeding.
8. Share your experiences
The first thing you should do is share your experiences with your partner and not keep this guilt within you.
It is very important for you to express your feelings to your close friends and family so that they can understand how you feel and thus be able to support you in the best way.
It can also be helpful for you to talk to other mothers so that you know if they have experienced this situation and can offer solutions that can help you.
As always, it will be very useful to contact the health service.
Try to face this situation as a challenge that you can overcome.
Maintaining a positive attitude, distracting yourself and receiving support from your family will enable you to cope with this situation.
