10/23/2025
There is a lot of truth to this!
Many breastfeeding challenges today aren’t because something is “wrong” with the mother or baby…it’s often because of how modern birth practices interfere with biology.
In an ideal, uninterrupted birth, a newborn instinctively crawls to the breast, roots, and latches within the first hour, guided by powerful hormonal cues from both mother and baby. But in the 21st century, birth is often heavily medicalized, and even small interventions can disrupt this natural sequence.
💊 Medications During Labor and Birth
Epidurals, IV fluids, Pitocin, and other medications can affect both mom and baby. For the baby, they may cause temporary drowsiness, weaker muscle tone, or difficulty coordinating suck-swallow-breathe. For the mother, they may interfere with oxytocin release, the same hormone responsible for milk ejection and bonding.
💧 Overhydration of the Mother
Excess IV fluids given during labor can lead to swelling in mom’s breasts and baby’s tissues. A swollen ni**le or ar**la can make latching physically harder for a newborn. Babies may also lose more “weight” after birth as they naturally shed the excess fluid, which can be misinterpreted as poor feeding.
👶🏼 Suctioning the Baby After Birth
Routine suctioning is no longer recommended for vigorous babies, yet it still happens. This can irritate the baby’s airway and mouth, making them reluctant to latch or feed right away. Babies use oral sensations to find and latch onto the breast, so discomfort can set them back.
💔 Separation of Mom and Baby
When the baby is taken away for weighing, cleaning, or observation, even for “just a few minutes,” it interrupts the hormonal dance that triggers breastfeeding behaviors. The first hour after birth, known as the golden hour is crucial. Skin-to-skin contact stabilizes the baby’s temperature, breathing, and blood sugar, and dramatically increases the likelihood of successful latching.
🍼 Swaddling Too Soon
Wrapping a baby tightly before they’ve latched removes their ability to use their arms and hands to find the breast, something newborns instinctively do. Babies need their hands free to help guide themselves and stimulate the breast.
Breastfeeding success isn’t just about “trying harder”… it’s about setting up the environment nature intended. When mothers and babies are allowed uninterrupted skin-to-skin time, when medications are used judiciously, and when support is provided instead of separation, breastfeeding outcomes improve drastically. 💛
