The biggest thing missing from most breastfeeding education?
💡 The connection between how you birth and how you feed.
In modern maternity care, birth and feeding are often treated like two separate events, existing in isolation. But here's the thing: they are deeply intertwined.
We’re told, “Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world”, as though it’s effortless—just “pop the baby to the breast, and off they go!” And when that doesn’t happen? You’re left feeling blindsided, maybe even like a failure.
So, let’s unpack why breastfeeding can feel hard sometimes—and how your birth experience might play a bigger role than anyone’s told you.
Why Breastfeeding Feels Harder Than Advertised
The truth is, there’s no one answer. Breastfeeding challenges arise from a mix of factors—lack of support, cultural expectations, misinformation, physical or medical issues, and more. But here’s the kicker:
Birth is often the missing piece of the puzzle.
The way you bring your baby into the world has ripple effects that can shape the early days of feeding. Let’s look at some of the ways birth can impact breastfeeding.
How Birth Impacts Breastfeeding
🌟 Early Planned Caesarean or Induction
When babies are born before they’re fully ready, it can affect their ability to latch and your body’s readiness to produce milk.
🌟 Instrumental Birth
Forceps or ventouse delivery—common with interventions like epidurals or induced labour—can leave your baby with tension in their neck or shoulders, making it harder for them to find a comfortable latch.
🌟 Heavy Bleeding or High-Intervention Birth
Your body’s priority after a significant bleed is healing you, which can delay milk production.
🌟 Separation After Birth
If you and baby are separated (common after caesareans or if baby needs special care), those precious early feeds may be disrupted, which can have a knock-on effect on milk supply.
🌟 Labour Fluids & Weight Loss Panic
Receiving IV fluids during labour might temporarily inflate your baby’s birth weight. When they lose that extra fluid in the days after birth, it might look like a sharp weight drop, triggering unnecessary concerns about milk supply and leading to supplementation.
🌟 Medication During Labour
Drugs like pethidine or diamorphine cross the placenta, potentially making babies sleepy and reluctant to feed in the early days, impacting your milk supply.
🌟 Jaundice & Separation
Babies born via induction or instrumental delivery have a higher chance of developing jaundice, which often leads to separation for treatment or formula supplementation. Both of these can disrupt feeding patterns and milk production.
So, What Can We Do About It?
The current system is all about reacting to problems:
🔍 You’re frantically Googling for answers at 3 a.m.🤔 Being bounced between DHB services.💸 Shelling out for private lactation consultants.
What if we flipped the script?
Instead of firefighting, let’s focus on preventing breastfeeding challenges before they arise.
Preparing for Breastfeeding Starts in Pregnancy
Here’s the game-changer: your journey to breastfeeding success starts now, in pregnancy—not after your baby is in your arms.
When you understand how birth and breastfeeding connect, you can make informed choices to stack the odds in your favour.
This isn’t about gatekeeping or sugar-coating the truth. At Soul Sisters Studios, I believe in giving you the tools, knowledge, and confidence to feel empowered in your choices—during birth and beyond.
Because sometimes, it’s not as simple as “skin to skin, nose to nipple.” And that’s okay.
How I Can Help You
I will help keep you informed of the issues that matter to your journey, follow the blog for more educations of pregnancy birth and baby!💡 Build your breastfeeding confidence before your baby even arrives, take my antenatal classes where you also receive a online breastfeeding workshop as a bonus.
Because knowledge is power, and when you’ve got the facts, you can step into this next chapter feeling prepared and supported.
Let’s Stack the Odds in Your Favour
Whether you’re preparing for your first baby or looking for a better experience this time around, I’m here to help you connect the dots between birth and breastfeeding.
✨ Join one of my antenatal classes in Auckland & get our FREE online breastfeeding preparation workshop.✨ Let’s rewrite the narrative and make this journey yours.
Got questions? Leave them below, or let’s chat over a cuppa at the next class. You’ve got this, and I’ve got you.
Ready to take the next step?
Your feeding journey starts with informed choices—and I’m here to guide you every step of the way. 🌟
Donna
Antenatal Classes Auckland
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