When a new baby arrives, it marks a profound shift in a parent’s life. As a certified breastfeeding counselor (CBC), you’re aware that the lactating parent’s focus shifts from herself to the needs of her baby, often leading to significant lifestyle changes. With these changes, stress is common, and it is important to know, can stress impact breastfeeding?

Can Stress Negatively Impact Breastfeeding?

Stress, in the broadest sense, refers to anything that threatens the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis. While short-term stress can sometimes be beneficial (such as in life-threatening situations), prolonged stress can lead to health problems.

As a CBC, you know that the way individuals experience stress varies greatly. What’s stressful for one mother may not impact another in the same way.

Let’s explore five key points regarding how stress and breastfeeding intersect.

Stress May Indirectly Affect Breastfeeding Behavior

Stress doesn’t directly reduce milk supply, but it can lead to behaviors which might indirectly impact breastfeeding. Stressed mothers might sleep less, become ill, or increase their caffeine and alcohol intake. These can all disrupt breastfeeding routines.

In these cases, it’s not stress itself that reduces milk supply, but the change in behavior that affects how often or how long a baby nurses. This can potentially lead to reduced milk production as we know it is a supply demand process.

As a CBC, your role includes guiding mothers to recognize possible patterns and helping them establish strategies to maintain consistent breastfeeding, even during stressful times.

Milk Production Continues Even in High-Stress Situations

It’s important to reassure parents that their milk supply won’t just disappear because they’re stressed. Even in extreme situations—such as war zones or natural disasters—mothers can continue producing milk.

A supportive, calm environment may be beneficial, but mothers should know that stress alone doesn’t immediately stop milk production. Stressing about stress is not going to decrease supply, however, it can lead to unnecessary mental and physical symptoms. Reassuring parents is crucial. It is not stress itself, but any stress leading to behavior which might reduce milk expression (whether latching or pumping) is what could reduce milk supply.

Preterm Birth and Stress: Milk Supply Is Resilient

Preterm birth can be incredibly stressful, but research shows that psychological stress doesn’t necessarily reduce milk supply in mothers of premature babies. Studies have found that factors like income, gestational age, early milk production, and the frequency of breast stimulation are more significant predictors of milk supply than stress levels at six weeks postpartum.

Interestingly, relaxation techniques have been shown to improve milk supply in mothers of preterm infants, highlighting the potential for stress management interventions.

When preterm babies are unable to latch due to gestational age or oxygen assistance requirements, parents must reply on pumps to stimulate the breast and milk removal. This often requires more effort than being able to latch a baby. With the demands of NICU visits, it can be difficult to manage a pumping schedule.

You can help reassure NICU parents that stress and emotional state is not going to negatively impact her supply.

The Let-Down Reflex May Be Affected by Stress

The let-down reflex is vital for milk release, but stress can interfere with it. The release of oxytocin, the hormone responsible for the let-down, can be inhibited by stress. This could mean a slower or incomplete let-down, resulting in less milk being removed from the breast during a feed.

If this happens occasionally, the effect on milk supply is minimal. However, if stress continues to disrupt the let-down reflex over multiple feeds, it may have a more significant impact on milk production.

As a CBC, you can help parents understand this mechanism and suggest strategies like relaxation techniques, skin-to-skin contact, or seeking more professional lactation support to help regulate stress and ensure a successful let-down.

Breastfeeding Itself Can Be a Stress Reliever

When breastfeeding is going smoothly, it can help reduce stress by dampening the stress response in the mother. Oxytocin, released during breastfeeding, not only aids milk flow but also promotes feelings of relaxation and bonding. Encouraging mothers to maintain a healthy breastfeeding routine can support both their emotional well-being and their milk supply.

However, if a mother is experiencing breastfeeding difficulties, it’s essential to guide her to seek prompt support, such as from an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), to prevent stress from exacerbating any breastfeeding challenges. As a CBC, you can support typical breastfeeding initiation, common questions, and minor ailments. Ongoing lactation difficulties should be referred to IBCLC for more advanced support.

If feeding difficulties is increasing stress levels, encourage parents to seek more support. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) can be exacerbated with feeding difficulties. Getting adequate support is important.

As a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor, your ability to provide compassionate, informed support to mothers during stressful times is invaluable. By recognizing the nuances of how stress interacts with breastfeeding, you can help parents navigate these challenges and continue to meet their breastfeeding goals.