Biological Nurturing

Since doctors took over labor and delivery women have been lying down to give birth. In the last decennia awareness grew that however convenient these positions are for the physician or midwife delivering the baby, it is not so for mother or child. After all, just imagine how hard it is to push a slightly too big child trough a slightly too narrow curving birth canal while working against gravity. Pioneers like Odent, Gaskin and Smulders recognized that and started working on and promoting vertical birthing positions. In breastfeeding we see something happen that compares to this, but the other way around. Breastfeeding is viewed as learned behavior and mother are instructed how to position themselves and their child, how to support and how to latch on. Most frequently used positions are sitting straight upright. To learn breastfeeding this way is often hard and frustrating for both mother and child and is often accompanied with discomfort and pain for mom. Colson is the pioneer in this area, working on and promoting different breastfeeding positions in order to make breastfeeding easier and increase comfort and enjoyment. In order to achieve enjoyable and comfortable breastfeeding mothers need to recline  to a laid-back position. The positions traditionally used for birthing appear to be working better for breastfeeding and vice versa. A baby who is on his tummy on top of his laid-back mother, is in an optimal position to promote his innate reflexes for searching and finding the breast, latch o and create milk flow. Mothers are way more comfortable and enjoy breastfeeding without or far less pain. It is time we reconsider the ways we teach mothers how to breastfeed.
Colson S., (2005) Maternal breastfeeding positions: Have we got it right? (1) The Practising Midwife 8:10;24-27; (2) The Practising Midwife 8:11; 29-32
Colson S (2008) The Nature – Nurture Debate and breastfeeding competencies. Bringing Nature to the Fore. The Practising Midwife 8(11) 14-19
Colson S: An Introduction to Biological Nurturing – New Angles on Breastfeeding. Hale Publishing, 2010 (Available In Dutch summer 2011).
CW Genna: Facilitating autonomous infant hand use during breastfeeding. Clin Lact, 2010 - media.clinicallactation.org