Why Is Breastfeeding Worse Than Childbirth?

Introduction:

Breastfeeding can be one of the hardest things. It can be more stressful than giving birth. A drug-free birth can be insanely painful and traumatizing. But breastfeeding can be incredibly painful for a longer duration than childbirth. Despite the pain related to breastfeeding, it is a process that offers immense benefits to both the mother and the baby. This helps babies against short and long-term illnesses and also lowers the risk of type 1 diabetes, obesity, asthma, and sudden infant death syndrome. Babies are also prone to fewer stomach bugs and ear infections.

How Do Labor Choices Affect Breastfeeding?

Birth affects breastfeeding in many ways. Birth is separate from the breastfeeding experience. Birth can affect how infants nurse. The most common ways that birth practices interfere with breastfeeding are:

• Length of Labor- If the length of labor is really out of control it can affect breastfeeding. But this helps the babies during the labor process. And very long labor or short labor can increase breastfeeding difficulty. This is because of exertion and the baby's feelings after birth, even short labor as they can be hard.

• Medications of Labor- Medications that are accepted in labor can hinder breastfeeding and not in all cases. Baby couplets sail through after giving birth with medication, particularly epidural anesthesia, without a hitch. Babies are less likely to nurse.

• Suctioning- Suctioning is a practice that is questionable in vaginal birth and particularly when the perineum is intact, one that persists, deep, vigorous suctioning can irritate the baby’s mouth leaving it sore. Doctors prefer minimal or gentle suctioning in such situations.

• Early Separation of Mom and Newborn- It is recommended to breastfeed immediately after birth and preferably within 30 minutes. Newborn has a very quiet, alert state in mind at this point where breastfeeding is imprinted on the infant’s brain. Skin-to-skin contact helps in facilitating the process. If this does not happen the infant can have a detrimental effect on breastfeeding.

• Bathing- This comes under the category of early separation. Some research reveals the smell of amniotic fluid can help babies nurse and this can be a reason to delay the bathing of a newborn.

• Cesarean Section- A delay in milk production occurs in mothers with C-sections. Early and frequent pumping sessions can help with this issue. Cesarean labor may also be less likely to experience it than a planned cesarean before labor.

• Induction of Labor- In this procedure, the labor is induced by certain drugs. This potential added intervention can cause difficulties in breastfeeding. These babies tend to have more issues in learning to latch and breastfeed effectively compared with others.

• Premature Labor- When an infant is born early, they can have more trouble nursing either due to a lack of mature sucking ability or other confounding medical issues. Pumped breastmilk is very beneficial until they can get them to the breast.

• Multiples, Twins, or More- More babies harder breastfeeding can be. In many multiples, twins are often born early and this can influence breastfeeding.

• Other Interventions- Other interventions during delivery like forceps and vacuums can also interfere with breastfeeding. These forceps or vacuums used in delivery can cause facial bruising and sometimes swelling and also can lead to facial nerve paralysis. The babies delivered by this method can have discomfort and how they are positioned at the breast and the jaw movement during feeding can be painful for the babies.

What Are the Reasons That Can Prove Breastfeeding Is Worse Than Childbirth?

Many women feel that breastfeeding is definitely harder than delivery and labor. Breastfeeding is the easiest and also considered the most difficult part of early motherhood.

• Giving birth without drugs claims that women are trying to prove a point. On using an epidural she may be judged as she opted for an easy way out. On opting for a c-section she can be blamed as she did not give birth at all. This call can be so ridiculous and endless, annoying, and can be difficult for a new mother to hear. These unwanted comments and comparisons can be judgmental and shameful for a woman when she is breastfeeding, especially in public.

• There is no denying that labor and delivery are exhausting but the length of breastfeeding lasts longer and this can be more exhausting. As women constantly burn 300 to 600 extra calories to produce milk for the baby.

• The physique of women keeps constantly changing during pregnancy, after delivery, and even after childbirth as they are prolonged breastfeeding. There are great chances of messing up clothes and taking multiple pieces of clothing. Even the women need to change a lot due to leaking or baby spitting after feeding.

• The potential complications last much longer. If women have mastitis, it could take days before the issue is realized. This can last for at least 48 hours to get rid of. Clogged milk ducts can continue for days, or weeks and can be recurring issues.

• Unsolicited advice lasts longer and is more overwhelming since breastfeeding is a longer process than delivery and labor as it offers more opportunities for unwanted advice from others like family members, friends, random people, doctors, and internet commenters. One may receive unwanted advice prior to delivery and labor. While breastfeeding or in between the feeding sessions one can take time to stop and comment about how it should be done and how it should not be done.

• Pain while breastfeeding can occur due to improper latching issues which can worsen the breastfeeding experience. Also, some habits and results due to watching issues in infants can lead infants to bite their nipples which can be more painful to the new mothers. This can lead to painful nipples as well as rupture, wound, and sore nipples.

Conclusion:

Breastfeeding is substantially more difficult than labor and delivery. They certainly have a common payoff, whether it is worth it or not. Motherhood is worth the hardships, difficulties, and even pain, along with the anxiety and fears a mother faces. Labor can feel scary and hurtful as one is unaware of how long it will last. In the case of breastfeeding, there are lactation consultants and countless forums that help with the difficulties, but at the end of the day, this procedure has to be practiced by the mother and the baby alone on their own, which can be a little scarier.