Thus begins the crisis of confidence for many modern breastfeeding mothers...
Human breasts are mammary glands and are fairly mysterious structures when viewed from the outside.
Their size and storage capacity for holding a milk supply will vary greatly from woman to woman.
Unlike other types of containers, such as cups or bottles, they do not come standardized; there is no truly valid way to analyze the total amount of milk volume that is being produced and stored at any given moment.
You can only get a ball park idea of the inner workings of a lactating breast when breastfeeding styles and milk removal methods are taken into careful consideration.
Human milk production begins after the delivery of the baby and removal of the placenta.
Hormones set up milk production within the breasts and facilitate the release of fluids and nutrients into the ducts.
Initially it is a complex feedback system between the baby, the brain of the mother which is secreting the hormones of lactation and the breasts of the mother.
By the end of thesecond to third month post delivery, the system becomes less dependent upon the hormonal circuit; variations in milk supply begin to be completely dictated by how the baby breastfeeds.
During the beginning days of breastfeeding, the mother makes more milk than her baby can drink.
The amount of milk being consumed will increase over time.
The breasts get in-synch with the appetite and breastfeeding style of each unique baby; the milk supply is replenished in keeping with the patterns that have been established.
It is normal for the breasts to settle down and carry the milk in a less dramatic fashion.
However, when this happens many women begin to worry.
They have gotten the misimpression that "fullness" is necessary to prove they have enough milk.
Anxious motherswill be often be encouragedby medical personnel, lactation "experts" and friends topump in order to "stimulate" their milk supply.
It is the old "Seeing is Believing" logic.
The imperfect removal of milk by these machines does make the breasts initiallyfeel "fuller".
At times this is even a bit uncomfortable because the pump cannot drain the breasts as well as a baby.
The mother starts wanting proof that she has ample milk.
The more she pumps, the more vested she becomes in "measuring" what the baby is eating.
When a mother relies more heavily on pumping and bottles to deliver her milk, there can be a negative impact upon the quality and frequency of direct breastfeeding sessions.
The overall amount of circulating breastmilk will decrease as the emphasis shifts away from letting the baby drive the milk supply.
Unexpectedly the baby may start becoming fussy while breastfeeding but will continue to take bottles without offering any complaints.
Such a change in behavior confirms the mother 's fear that she is running out of milk; it is often the beginning of a pattern of regular supplementation which can lead to early weaning.
This 'Confidence Game' can only be won by focusing on optimizing how the actual breastfeeding is being done and leaving nothing to chance.
Breastfeeding may be natural, but is definitely an experience with a learning curve.
Support and guidance shouldbe tailored to each unique breastfeeding couple.
Get your free Mini-Conscious Breastfeeding Course and participate in a community of empowered 'Conscious Breastfeeding' mothers at http://thebreastfeedingsalon.
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