Do you know many women who have breastfed their babies from birth?

A British study researched the link between medication given to women to prevent hemorrhaging after childbirth and breastfeeding rates for those women.

The drug oxytocin is commonly given to women after childbirth to prevent severe blood loss (>500 mL in 24 hrs.) known as postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). This can lead to fainting or severe anemia.

After a vaginal birth, the mother’s body must expel the placenta which creates rapid blood loss. The doctor or midwife will apply firm pressure on the fundus, or top of the uterus. This promotes postpartum contractions of the uterus so the placenta will be expelled and blood vessels will constrict to prevent severe blood loss.

Many doctors routinely use oxytocin even if the woman is not at risk for PPH. Women who have had a poor pregnancy diet,  given birth to multiples,  had a rapid or prolonged labor, or have been given Pitocin for induction may be at risk for PPH.

There are many natural alternatives to preventing PPH:

  • Manual nipple stimulation
  • Baby suckling on the breast immediately after birth
  • Homeopathic remedies such as Bellis Perennis (common daisy) or Arnica Montana
  • Massage to fundus

Results from the study supported the fact that  drugs used to stop bleeding may impede milk production and that high dosages of painkillers used in labor may do the same.

There are many variables in this study, so we cannot scientifically say that one affects the other.

My opinion is that any drug given to a mom in labor or after childbirth can affect the body’s natural processes. Hundreds of years ago, women learned to inherently trust their bodies during childbirth. Many of them did suffer extreme blood loss that resulted in death, but we now have great medical technology that should be used on a case-by-case basis.

Here’s my story…

The midwife that delivered my son was not the midwife I had seen throughout my pregnancy. My preferred midwife was not on duty so I had no choice but to use the one midwife I had only met with once.  After my son was born, the midwife began applying firm pressure on my fundus while my son was suckling at my breast. As mentioned before, both of these methods are natural ways to expel the placenta and begin constriction of blood vessels to slow bleeding.

However, when I was told I had a “second-degree” tear to my perineum and I was losing a good bit of blood, the midwife started telling me that PPH can cause maternal death, blah, blah, blah… I had just had a beautiful birth experience and she starts telling me about maternal death!!

I was not cool with that. I told her “I am healthy and my bleeding will slow down on its own.”

Thanks to my many months of childbirth education through the Bradley Method, I knew that my body would naturally begin to heal and there was no need for any interventions because I was healthy and low-risk.

Unfortunately, many new moms are poorly educated on childbirth and they often succumb to doctor/midwife scare tactics like the one I was told. This is not to say that in  high-risk scenarios interventions may be needed.

I did not receive any labor/delivery  medications at the hospital and I had a successful breastfeeding experience from the start. My son began to learn to latch on at the hospital and I nursed him often. Nursing your child as much as possible will stimulate the nipple which then contracts the uterus to expel postpartum blood called lochia.

This is all thanks to beautiful chemicals called hormones! This is nature’s way of regulating bodily functions without the need for synthetic forms.

So…

  1. If you are pregnant, I encourage you to start researching childbirth procedures on your own.
  2. Believe in yourself and your body and envision a positive birth experience.
  3. Have a BIRTH PLAN! This will lay out your wishes for anyone interacting with you and your baby during and after labor. Go over it with your doctor/midwife and discuss their beliefs on the use of oxytocin to prevent PPH.
  4. Also, don’t give up when beginning to breastfeed. Every case is different but you and your baby will benefit so much from the breastfeeding experience once established!

Research from the study found on BBC News.

To Your Well-Being,

Olivia Johnston

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Filed under: Childbirth

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