Tips on breastfeeding
Mastitis again. What to do?
One of the most typical breastfeeding problems is inflammation of mammary glands, or mastitis. It is caused by untreated milk congestion in some particular zone within the breast when the breast tissue swells up, giving rise to redness that is markedly sensitive or painful to touch. Such inflammation should be relieved by leafs of cabbage and full milking, yet according to the experience such inflammations tend to reoccur. Why? It might be that by eliminating the mental reasons of the mastitis it would disappear. Tips from the book “Krankheit als Symbol” by Ruediger Dahlike would help.
Recurrent mastitis often derives from the mother’s inner conflict over the very source of the breastfeeding, i.e. her readiness to sacrifice herself and become a “food” to somebody. It means giving up her precedent identity and sexuality. Of crucial importance are relations within the couple, as this situations means infringement of the chain Child-Husband-Sexuality-Care-Money.
The most typical conflicts that may stimulate development of mastitis at psychosomatic level:
The mother takes particular care about her baby, convincingly wants to breastfeed, as she is aware of bonding between the mother and the newborn. Besides, she wants not only to be a good mother, but also to take her time to care about other family members: to be a good wife, play with elder children, etc. Unfortunately, it is impossible. Breastfeeding is too demanding to slip out of focus, and over this time the mother is no more capable to take full-fledged care about anybody else, including herself.
The mother unwittingly feels aggression towards the child. The inner conflict is rooted in her wish to give, whereas she feels that in her time she has been devoid of it. She would happily give, if only she had support and assurance of love from her husband.
Changes in sexuality the mother does not feel like to accept. It is never easy to revise relations with her family, her partner, and her child. Her figure has also changed, and it could be that she can not decide who is now entitled to enjoy her breasts - the partner or the child. Breasts change in shape and bring along the anxiety about her chances to regain her sexuality.
Alterations in relationship. The partnership, once so close, has been split by the child. In her relations with the partner the woman feels pushed aside, as her partner devotes his attention to work and his love to the baby. Moreover, during this period the woman is most vulnerable and tender, wants to be cared for and protected. Probably she just lacks quite human support from her partner.
What to do?
Have an inner fight with yourself over the breastfeeding: what I want and can give the baby with the mother’s milk; establish inner willingness to be a nutrition to somebody.
Reduce requirements to herself as the mother, wife, daughter-in-law etc. Let others take more care about yourself and your family.
Accept and enjoy your womanhood. Feminine body and breasts are so beautiful, since devised to give birth.
Arrange your priorities with the shift in favor of the newborn. Accept that the partner for a while will be put behind the baby, whereas during this period you as a woman need your husband’s hugs and support more than ever.
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