Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding And Blood Pressure

Hypertension is often cited as a reason to induce a birth, and many mothers ferverently seek out ways to maintain healthy blood pressure especially towards the end of their pregnancy.

In addition to diet, and lifestyle changes (High Protein Diets, such as the Brewer Diet, have been shown to help maintain blood pressure) It is now recognised that breastfeeding will also reduce maternal blood pressure.

Methods: Sixty-six primiparae with normal deliveries were consecutively recruited. Blood pressure was measured at −5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes in connection with a morning breastfeed. Thirty-three women continued to measure blood pressure before and after breastfeeding for 25 weeks.

Results: Blood pressure fell significantly in response to breastfeeding 2 days after birth. The fall in systolic and diastolic blood pressure amounted to 8.8 (SD = 11.00) and 7.7 (SD = 9.3) mm Hg, respectively. During the 25-week follow-up period a significant fall of basal blood pressure (systolic, df = 3, F = 7.843, p < 0.001; diastolic, df = 3, F = 5.453, p = 0.002) was observed. The total fall in systolic and diastolic blood pressure amounted to a mean of 15 (SD = 10.4) mm Hg and 10 (SD = 9.7) mm Hg, respectively. In addition, blood pressure fell significantly in response to individual breastfeeding sessions during the entire observation period.

Conclusions: In conclusion, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall during a breastfeeding session, and pre-breastfeeding blood pressure decreases during at least the first 6 months of a breastfeeding period in a homelike environment. This study lends further support to the health-promoting effects of breastfeeding.

W. Jonas, E. Nissen, A.-B. Ransjo-Arvidson, I. Wiklund, P. Henriksson, K. Uvnas-Moberg. Breastfeeding Medicine. June 1, 2008, 3(2): 103-109. doi:10.1089/bfm.2007.0031.

So another reason to continue to nurse your child is to help maintain a healthy blood pressure throughout your pregnancy.

Tips For Breastfeeding While Pregnant

Breastfeeding whilst you’re pregnant is definitely possible, but it does come with unique challenges. Take heart, you might be one of those lucky moms who breeze through it. At some point, it is likely you’ll experience a little discomfort, and possibly pain. There is a little to be done about it, so read on.

Physical Discomfort:

Nipple Pain – early nipple tenderness in pregnancy is very common, and there’s little you can do about it. Ensuring you have good attachment with your older child, will lessen the pain. Other strategies you may find useful is cool packs, warm packs, and lanolin ointment.

That said, the pain is hormonal, and part of growing a new baby – generally it subsides by the 12th week. But in the meantime, local heat and cool will provide relief.

Morning Sickness: It’s fair to say, that when you can’t stomach food, nursing an insistent child is the last thing you’ll probably want to do. Some strategies, might be, nursing lying down, where you can both get a little rest.

Try and ensure your nutrition is good – eat well, small meals and often. Keeping your fluids up has been said to help too.

Anecdotally, breastfeeding has been said to relieve morning sickness. So you might be in for a bonus!

Emotional Challenges.

You may find yourself frustrated, overwhelmed, and even angry with your older child – this is normal. But it helps to communicate your feelings to an understanding listener. If this isn’t your partner or family, arrange a consultation with a qualified Lactation Consultant.

Remember your child is still young, and still learning too – being angry doesn’t help them, nor you. Addressing your feelings and talking them over with a sympathetic ear is the best approach.

Breastfeeding And Blood Pressure

Tips For Breastfeeding While Pregnant

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