Postpartum Breastfeeding (part 3)

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You can find the first and second parts about breastfeeding here

There is no way one can imagine how thirsty and hungry you get from breastfeeding (unless you’ve done it before)! To give endlessly in this way require that you recharge and take care of yourself to be able to give more. I always have a water bottle at my “breast feeding posts” to easier remember to drink water. A girlfriend of mine shared that she puts a piece of fruit next to the bed every night before “going on night shift”. I also make sure that I drink my herbal teas. Warm water cleanses and strengthens the body and there are several lovely herbs to use to promote lactating. For instance, I make my own tea blend from:

Raspberry leaves, which tones and strengthens the uterus and help her go back to her normal size.

Nettle, which is rich in iron and vitamin C and thereby strengthens the blood and adds energy to the body. Some sources also claim nettles to promote milk production.

Fennel (seeds), besides keeping the postpartum colon at a good mood, fennel seeds are used by ancient traditions worldwide to support milk production and flow.

Chamomile or Melissa. I use either of these to flavor the herbal tea blend. Both chamomile and Melissa are calming for the nervous system and aids good sleep.

A friend of mine recently told me that due to lack of postpartum care and delivery follow-up from the health care system here in Sweden, one of her breasts stopped giving milk (something that happens due to the drugs given to her because of the after-delivery injury). Of course, she was devastated not being able to breast feed her 2 months old baby 100% but had to compliment with the bottle. When I found out she had almost accepted that her left breast no longer gave milk and had used the bottle for 6 weeks. We spoke about her situation, what she had gone through and been victim of- both the physical and the spiritual aspects of the story. Then she went home and worked with her personal journey and the wisdom lessons from this situation through meditation, prayer work, release work etc. She continued to try giving her baby the breast that didn’t lactate as well as massage it regularly. In addition, I asked her to drink fennel seed tea every day from now on and throughout her breastfeeding period, as this would also support and help the breast that did produce milk. When we met again a few weeks later she shared with me that her left breast had started to give milk again! And so that now, she was able to breastfeed full time again. What a relief!

Summarising, basically everybody can breastfeed. And we make the world more beautiful by doing it!

At the time of publishing this post, Orion has already started guiding me to the next phase, as he becomes more and more interested in solid foods. To reduce breastfeeding is emotional (to me) in many ways and it requires its journey through time. Orion’s joy and curiosity when he gets to try the same things that we put in our mouths guide me and us in to this journey. I am grateful that he gives me that joy because it makes it easier for me to little by little give him more and more from the food of Mother Earth. Of course, we will continue to enjoy the closeness and togetherness of breastfeeding even after he stops relying on it for food.

What's your story? tell us about your breastfeeding journey in the comments below!

This article was first published in Swedish 20/4-2017 read it here

Ometeotl,

Magdalena Chandrakaí

Yoga Teacher & Curandera

www.yogamamas.se

The picture shows basil tea