How Common Birth Interventions Affect Breastfeeding Relationships

Jul 21, 2021

There are many ways to give birth. When most women think of the “how” behind birthing, we think of natural versus medicated, or vaginal versus C-Section. But the truth is, there are many medical birth interventions that fall somewhere in the middle, creating various combinations of birth. This is why no birth story is the same, and how a birth went + which medications are used can vary from mother to mother, as well as from pregnancy to pregnancy.

In today’s blog, we’re taking a closer look at some of the most common medical birth interventions and how they impact the breastfeeding relationship between mom and baby.

BREASTFEEDING RELATIONSHIPS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL

In the same way that our interpersonal relationships with people we know can change over time, so can our breastfeeding relationship with our baby. Relationships, too, can be altered or impacted by the environment or by outside forces or situations.

Picture this: it’s 100 degrees in the middle of summer. Your air conditioning goes out, and you’re pregnant and hormonal. Then something in your garbage disposal stinks up the entire house. It feels like everything is going wrong - is your relationship with your partner / spouse going to be impacted by everything going on? Absolutely! Relationships and how we communicate with people are not unaffected by the outside world. Our moods and emotions come into play, as well as the environment.

The same way that our relationships are impacted by outside factors, so is a mother’s breastfeeding relationship with her newborn.

It’s no secret that stress and diet can negatively impact breastfeeding success. But what about the things that happen during the birth process? Can the medications and interventions you receive during labor and delivery impact the success of breastfeeding? Absolutely!! Most moms I talk to don’t know about this, so if breastfeeding is not going as planned, they chuck it up to them being a failure.

You’re not a failure if your breastfeeding journey doesn’t go as planned. So now you know that, let’s take a look at (3) of the most common birth interventions, what they are, how they affect mom and baby, and what that means for your breastfeeding relationship:

IV FLUIDS

Having an IV is as common as it gets, with almost any hospital visit. It’s often a misconception that an IV is only water, or saline, and it’s sole purpose is to keep a patient hydrated. However, IV stands for “intravenous,” or inside the veins. So really, anything can be used in conjunction with an IV to deliver water, or any kind of medicine, directly to the bloodstream.

An IV is used when it’s not convenient or safe for the patient to drink fluids or take medicine by mouth. Also, sending medicine directly to the bloodstream allows the patient to absorb the medicine quicker, so that doctors and nurses are able to provide quality care faster.

So when we say “IV Fluids,” that’s a broad term to describe what could be many types of interventions. However, we will discuss the basic hydration type of IV here.

Maternal Swelling

Increased fluid intake, particularly from an IV which tends to give you more water than you would drink naturally, can cause water retention. Many pregnant women are already prone to water retention, so this can be a very common occurrence. Side effects of water retention includes swelling of the hands, feet, face, and even breasts. Swollen breasts and breast tissue can cause extra sensitivity, making the initial breastfeeding experience more difficult for you.

Problems Latching

In addition to the added discomfort, the swelling of the breast and nipple area can cause problems latching. If the breast is swollen to an abnormal shape, the newborn can have trouble closing their mouth around the nipple correctly.

Decreased Milk Supply

Though the swelling itself is not proven to cause a decrease in milk supply - everything is connected. Breastfeeding is a very delicate relationship, and anything out of balance can cause problems in other areas. If the swelling causes issues latching, then milk supply will be impacted, as well. Poor latching does not trigger milk supply properly. So if all of these things are out of balance, the breastfeeding relationship between mother and baby gets off to a poor start.

Newborn Weight Loss

While some weight loss after birth is normal for a newborn, having used an IV for fluids during labor can intensify this weight loss. In the same way that the mother experiences fluid retention from the IV, so does the baby. So the newborn’s initial birth weight can be skewed due to water retention, making the subsequent weight loss seem extreme + excessive, even though it was mostly water weight. This weight loss can trigger concern from parents and pediatricians alike, and cast doubts on breastfeeding - even if everything is going well.

How to Handle After Effects of IV Fluids

If you are concerned about the breastfeeding relationship being impacted by IV fluids during birth, talk to your doctor ahead of time about your options. Though many hospitals have a strict policy about letting women drink or eat during labor, it’s best to find out ahead of time if you will be able to drink water by mouth. If so, you might choose to forgo the IV fluids.

If, due to nausea, medical concerns, or hospital policy, you must have an IV during labor and birth, keep the aforementioned things in mind in the early days of motherhood and breastfeeding. Keep in mind that the initial infant weight loss is normal, watch for any swelling or difficulty latching, and be patient with your breastmilk supply when first starting out.

It’s important to remember that the initial infant weight loss does not mean you are failing at breastfeeding. Be patient with your body and your baby - and don’t hesitate to reach out to a postpartum doula or lactation consultant for help. You’ve got this, mama!

PITOCIN

Pitocin is another common birth intervention used to speed up or initiate the labor process. Pitocin during labor can cause:

More painful contractions
Increased chance of jaundice in baby
Increased stress on mother and baby

This intervention has similar implications as IV fluids, since both are given together. The stress placed on both mother and baby can inhibit the ability to relax during feeding, or to focus on correct latching. Breast milk supply can also be diminished due to stress levels in the mother’s body, and additional time might be required for both mom and baby to return to “normal” and breastfeed successfully.

If pitocin is used during your labor and delivery experience, it will be helpful to seek help from a postpartum doula and/or lactation consultant to help breastfeed smoothly and successfully.

ANALGESIA / EPIDURAL

Analgesia can be a blanket term for pain medications. Use of pain medications are often linked to use of pitocin during labor, which likely caused painful contractions. If you received an epidural with pain medication during labor, it’s possible that the breastfeeding relationship between you and your baby can be impacted.

Since these pain medications can and do cross over through the placenta, a newborn might be feeling drowsy or inactive after birth. This might delay breastfeeding, since the baby is tired and disinterested in feeding right away.

Additionally, the infant may have a delayed sucking reflex, as muscles might be responding slower to stimuli. So correct and proper latching might be difficult for a newborn who has experienced pain medications during their birth.

Like the pitocin, it’s most likely that a mother who received an epidural during birth also had an IV with fluids, so all of the concerns listed above such as swelling, problems latching correctly, decreased milk supply, and newborn weight loss, are all things to look out for and be informed of.

CONCLUSION

Just as not all births are the same, not all mothers will experience difficulty or delays in breastfeeding. It’s important to stay informed of what exactly can or will happen with any of the birthing interventions listed above, as they are common.

So if you’re currently pregnant and doing research ahead of time, be mindful of the impacts that interventions might have on breastfeeding. While these interventions might be part of your birth plan, know the ways in which they can impact the breastfeeding relationship with your child - and be prepared!

Difficulties or expected difficulties breastfeeding can be greatly minimized with the help of a trusted professional, such as a postpartum doula or a lactation consultant.

“I had a hard time breastfeeding my first child, and at the time I didn’t know why. It could have been a number of reasons - a stressful labor and birth, the use of an epidural, or simply not knowing how to breastfeed. I had a very one-track approach to all of it, and I wanted to figure out everything myself. In the end, I didn’t breastfeed for as long as I’d wanted to. That’s not to say it was a failure, but I would definitely do things differently next time and ask for help. Knowing all of the causes for breastfeeding troubles, and knowing that I have resources available to me, I will definitely ask for help after my next pregnancy. You should, too!” - Taylor, Coddle reader.