Episode 41 When a Second Breastfeeding Experience Brings Healing to a Lost First Experience with Katherine
Not every breastfeeding experience is created equal. Many of us who have struggled to feed our first baby are familiar with the sense of dread that comes with “failing” again.
This week on The Milk Making Minutes, you will hear a story of healing through a second chance at breastfeeding.
Our guest, Katherine, speaks candidly about the anxiety she felt from the moment her first child was born. Severe breastfeeding pain added to her postpartum anxiety, and despite how difficult it was emotionally, she was unable to continue nursing. When she became pregnant again, she worried that she would have a repeat of her first experience.
Join us as Katherine shares the story of her breastfeeding do-over and unpacks how her second experience offered a shift in perspective on what she perceived to be a failure with her firstborn.
We discuss the importance of improved support for nursing mothers, some of the factors that contribute to higher rates of postpartum depression and anxiety, and how we can bring more compassion to lactation practice.
To learn more about breaking the cycle of guilt and self-doubt in your own postpartum and breastfeeding journey, make sure to tune in today!
Topics discussed in this episode:
Katherine’s exposure to breastfeeding before it was her turn
Systemic barriers to breastfeeding based on policy, not health
How extreme breastfeeding pain added to Katherine’s postpartum anxiety
Factors contributing to higher rates of postpartum depression and anxiety
Shame, guilt, and self-doubt in the nursing journey
Why improved support for breastfeeding mothers is key
The importance of perinatal mental health support
Grief associated with choosing to end your nursing journey
Katherine’s experience of labor and breastfeeding with her second child
The healing, self-forgiveness, and perspective of her second experience
Overcoming the stigma associated with postpartum depression
The importance of sharing our stories
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