The Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding expert Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D., IBCLL discusses the many benefits of breastfeeding and how to overcome the most common difficulties breastfeeding moms face.

Commitment:  Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers is a wonderful book which explains in great detail the physical and emotional benefits of breastfeeding. What was your goal in writing this book?

Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D., IBCLL:  Our main goal was to be able to explain breastfeeding in a new way. We encountered so many mothers who had difficulties and had lots of book knowledge, but who encountered difficulties early on and gave up. We wanted to present a simpler way to know about breastfeeding that might help prevent some of the problems that we saw.

Commitment:  If breastfeeding is so natural, why does it seem so difficult?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  Mainly because breastfeeding is also a learned behavior. If we don’t grow up seeing breastfeeding women, it’s a lot harder to do. Many women we have worked with have never seen a woman breastfeed before they had their babies.

Commitment:  Years ago, all women breastfed their babies. Why and when did that stop?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  That’s not quite true. Most babies were breastfed, but not by their own mothers, necessarily. And there were parts of the world where women didn’t—even hundreds of years ago. Of course, they had a staggering infant mortality rate as a result.

In recent years, marketing of breast milk substitutes was a huge factor in the decline of breastfeeding. Also, inaccurate info is still a huge problem. Mothers’ needing to return to work right way. All of these factors contribute to lower rates of breastfeeding.

Commitment:  With all the proven advantages of breastfeeding - lower incidences of ear infections, respiratory disease including pneumonia and bronchitis and even SIDS - why aren't all women breastfeeding?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  I think it’s a variety of factors. First, some mothers still believe that while breastfeeding is “optimal,” that formula is nearly as good. That’s not true, of course. But we find that that’s what a lot of mothers believe. Also, some mothers encounter lots of problems, such as sore nipples, infections, or overwhelming fatigue. Faced with those difficulties, and in the absence of good lactation support, mothers may give up. And I can’t say I blame them.

Commitment:  Where should a woman who wants to breastfeed but is afraid and doesn't know any other breastfeeding moms, go for support?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  There are lots of mom-to-mom support organizations. More and more communities are offering Baby Cafes, where moms can drop in for breastfeeding support. Hospitals often have groups. There is La Leche League. And increasingly, mothers are getting support online.

Commitment:  What are the biggest advantages for a baby who is breastfed?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  We actually try to frame the debate in terms of what is normal. Breastfeeding helps the baby’s systems develop normally. Introducing foreign substances compromises the growth of these developing systems, increasing the risk of disease throughout a baby’s life.

Commitment:  What are the greatest advantages for a new mom who breastfeeds her baby?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  At first, there may not appear to be any—especially if the mom runs into challenges. But when things go well, breastfeeding lowers stress, increases the mom’s immune system function, and keeps her healthier throughout her life. She loses weight faster, has a lower risk of depression, and feels connected with her baby.

Commitment:  You advise new moms to consider breastfeeding as a part of the mother – child relationship. What impact does breastfeeding have on this relationship?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  When things are going well, it lowers mom’s stress and depression risk and helps her attach to her baby. Of course, non-breastfeeding women also attach to their babies. But with breastfeeding, more is built-in to the system.

Commitment:  Throughout the book you describe breastfeeding as a right brain (heart or body knowledge) activity as opposed to a left brain (intellectual) activity. Given that, how does a woman best prepare or train to become an expert breast feeder?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  Have her focus on her relationship with her baby, learn her baby’s cues, and realize that the baby knows how to breastfeed (unless there is some neurological problem).

Commitment:  Can every woman breastfeed?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  Sadly, no. But the overwhelming majority can with good support.

Commitment:  In your experience, are there particular types or groups of women who have the most trouble breastfeeding?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  I’d say mothers with low support have more difficulties. Also, if the mother or baby have health issues, these mothers may have more difficulties. But with good support, even mothers with these challenges can at least partially breastfeed their babies.

Commitment:  What are some of the difficulties a woman may face when first breastfeeding and how can she overcome those difficulties?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  Knowledge and support. And for mothers having ongoing difficulties, I’d recommend the site MOBI.org (mothers overcoming breastfeeding issues). Peer support can make all the difference.

Commitment:  Law 4 of your book states that more breastfeeding at first means more milk later, yet many women claim their bodies are not producing enough milk. Is the answer just to nurse more?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  That would depend on the mother. Often times, it comes down to an issue of emptying the breasts 8-12 times a day. If mothers fall below that number, their milk supply can decrease. But it may also be that there is a problem with the baby, such as poor latch or weak suck. The mother may have a hormonal issue, such as hypothyroidism or PCOS. The important thing with low supply is to try to figure out the cause before trying to “treat” it.

Commitment:  Should a new mom expect that her breastfeeding baby will need to eat more frequently than his formula fed peers?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  Generally speaking, yes. Also know that feedings tend to cluster, so moms may have times when they are feeding every hour. That’s a perfectly normal pattern.

Commitment:  It seems as if breastfeeding is a baby lead venture and a mom has to look for her baby's cues. For example, the baby will root when she's hungry, pull off the breast when she's done. Does a mom need to pay extra close attention to her baby in the first few weeks of life?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  I think that’s important. We try to teach mothers to be aware of early hunger cues. That way, she can allow the baby to find her breast and latch when the baby is not so frantically hungry. Crying is a late hunger cue—and it makes it quite hard for babies to learn.

Commitment:  Are there any instances under which a woman should not breastfeed her baby?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  If they have to take meds that are contraindicated for breastfeeding, such as cancer drugs or radioactive substances for hyperthyroidism. I also think if mothers hate and resent breastfeeding, for whatever reason, it’s probably best that they don’t.

Commitment:  Have you seen an increase in nursing moms?

Dr. Kendall-Tackett:  I’ve seen more mothers start breastfeeding. But we’re losing quite a few in the first weeks. That’s the group the field is most concerned about now.

Dr. Kathleen Kendall-Tackett is a health psychologist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Research Associate Professor of Psychology specializing in women’s health at the Family Research Lab, University of New Hampshire. She is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association in both the Divisions of Health Psychology and Trauma Psychology.  Dr. Kendall-Tackett is a La Leche League leader, chair of the New Hampshire Breastfeeding Taskforce, and the Area Coordinator of Leaders for La Leche League of Maine and New Hampshire.

Dr. Kendall-Tackett is author of more than 160 journal articles, book chapters and other publications, and author or editor of 15 books including The Hidden Feelings of Motherhood (2005, Hale Publications), Depression in New Mothers (2005, Haworth), and Breastfeeding Made Simple, co-authored with Nancy Mohrbacher (2005, New Harbinger).  She is on the editorial boards of the journals Child Abuse and Neglect, Journal of Child Sexual Abuse and the Journal of Human Lactation, and regularly reviews for 27 other journals in the fields of trauma, women’s health, interpersonal violence, depression, and child development.

To purchase Breastfeeding Made Simple, click here.