As a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor (CBC), you will support clients through a variety of typical breastfeeding situations. While people obviously breastfeed in every season, some seasons present challenges. There are some families who might find breastfeeding in the winter a little bit difficult.
Breastfeeding in the winter can be difficult for a few reasons. The cold weather, layering of colds, germs, and more. Here are top tips you can pass to your clients to help during the winter months:
Breastfeeding in The Winter – Stay Warm!
If a client still has a pretty young infant, especially a newborn, and they find breastfeeding a bit uncomfortable, inquire about how they feel. Is the room they are nursing in cold? Is it cold at nighttime?
At times, being cool can make typical sensations uncomfortable. This can be especially true of a parent who is pumping. If they are experiencing a bit of discomfort and pain, but it is not lasting the whole feed, it could be temperature related discomfort. If there is any damage to the nipple or the pain lasts, other causes are more likely.
If a client realizes that they might be cold, keeping a cardigan or robe nearby can help during feeding. If they suffer from Raynaud’s syndrome, they might want to consider a heating pad for their shoulders or back. Raynaud’s syndrome can impact the nipples with cold making symptoms worse.
Layering and Mindfulness of Clothing Choices
Every parent should be comfortable and dress appropriately for the weather. However, some clothing choices can make feeding on the go a bit more difficult.
Wearing a nursing tank or breastfeeding friendly top under a warm sweater can make for easy feeding while staying warm. Parents might also want to consider zip ups, button cardigans, etc., for even easier access.
If a baby is young and a bit small and the parent struggles with positioning, a zip-up, low cut top, and a scarf can be a great option. A scarf can keep their neck and upper chest warm while still making it easy to feed without a bulky sweater.
Laying is also important as babies can rub warm. Many parents might find themselves feeling a bit warm while feeding. Being able to remove a layer, even when outside, can make breastfeeding in the winter more comfortable.
Breastfeeding in The Winter – Don’t Forget to Stay Hydrated
We often think of dehydration as a summer problem. The hot weather, physical activities, and sweating can obviously increase the risk of dehydration.
However, it is still possible to get dehydrated in the winter. Without the excess warmth and sweating, some people may not feel as thirsty. This can lead to drinking less than ideal amounts of water.
Unlike false claims that overhydration will increase milk supply, this is not an article suggesting parents obsessively down water. It is simply important to pay attention to thirst and be mindful of overall fluid intake.
If a client is finding it difficult to consume a lot of water in cooler weather, you can suggest other ways to increase fluid intake such as:
- Breastfeeding safe herbal teas
- Cups of broth
- Consuming soup
- High water content fruits and vegetables
- Warm water with lemon
- Room temperature water rather than iced water
Again, clients should not stress over their hydration. Our bodies do a wonderful job of creating milk based on supply and demand. Eating and drinking to hunger and thirst are often sufficient for appropriate intake. It is simply important to be mindful of thirst and body signals that may not be as strong in cooler weather.
Do Not Over Bundle Baby
It is important that baby stay warm. However, over bundling baby can lead to deeper than natural sleep. As breastfeeding is a supply demand process, if baby is sleeping longer stretches than typical during they day, it could potentially impact supply.
It is also dangerous to over bundle a sleeping baby as it might increase the risk of SIDS. Typically, newborns and young infants need only one additional layer compared to older kids and adults in the same space. An older infant may not need extra layers if they are a higher weight.
Parents do not need to make big changes to their feeding even in the winter. However, these few tips can help with a smoother transition from warm weather to cool winter months.