I too am curious about a link between the synthetic oxytocin and lower
breastfeeding in hospital.
The majority of new mothers I see give both breast and formula and 99% say
that after they breastfed their infant was still hungry.
There seems to be a real lack of confidence and perhaps a contributing
factor is that their labor and birth was "handled"by others?
Interesting areas for some research.
On Nov 14, 2015 8:21 AM, "mary westra" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> I am late chiming in on this subject, however I have puzzled on it for many
> years.  As a hospital based lactation consultant and a previous home birth
> midwife, I would like to address some observations.  Most of the
> supplementation on our unit comes from mothers' request.  The most frequent
> statements from mothers are:  "He/She is still hungry" and "I don't have
> enough."  These are made with great concern.  The mothers really want to
> exclusively breastfeed but do not feel secure that they adequately meet
> their babys' needs.  I find that reassurance rarely works, nor does hand
> expression of several drops.  On the other hand, I don't recall any of my
> home birth mothers fretting like this.  Mothers who delivered at home
> rarely supplemented. Those that did did so when baby was not able to latch,
> not because they thought "She/he's starving!" They were mostly confident of
> their production.
>
> I am wondering if the use of synthetic oxytocin intrapartum may inhibit
> maternal oxytocin release in the early postpartum period.  Synthetic
> oxytocin was never used intrapartum in the home births I attended and it
> was only rarely during 3rd stage or after.
>
> Do you think it's also possible that women who deliver in the hospital less
> sure of their bodies and its ability to produce milk because the birth
> process has been handled by others? Is it simply a emotional reaction?  Do
> hospitalized mothers have difficulty with oxytocin release?
>
> I have a hard time not believing the mother's gut instincts when they fear
> that they are not providing one of  the most basic instincts of mothering.
> But the feelings could be a by-product of a really neurotic culture.
>
> These are some questions which I can't answer and hoping others have
> thoughts or perhaps answers.
>
> Grieving today for my friends and relatives in France,
>
> Mary Westra RN, IBCLC
>
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