Sarah Graves <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
My questions are: What factors do you think cause obese mothers to
breast-feed for shorter amounts of time than normal weight mothers? Is
there any medical intervention to quicken the onset of lactogenesis in
obese mothers to help promote breast-feeding? And finally, how often do
you personally see obese mothers have problems such as those mentioned
during breast-feeding? Thank you so much for your time and your
responses are very much appreciated!


 
Dear friends,
I'm pleased with Sarah's question. I have read about several studies and statistics that point to obesity as a negative factor in breastfeeding initiation and duration. And I have often wondered why that would be. Personally I have not met these obese unsuccesfull mothers. I am overweight myself, my sister is and many moms I have counceled in the passed 20 years where. And I never saw this negative correlation. I did see copious milk, though. And I did see logistic problems, like how to arrange the big breasts and the big belly and the tiny baby. But once those problems are taken care of, breastfeeding never seemed to be more problem raising than in thinner moms. So I do question hormonal or physiological reasons for the lower statistics. 
What I think might be a factor is the mom's ''social wellness''. How does she cope with being overweight and the reaction of people at her weight. Is she comfortable handling part of her body or is she ashamed or feeling insecure. How does she react to hcp's helping her to solve her initial problems and perhaps hearing or in other ways registrating comments about her weight and ''model''.
 
Warmly,
Gonneke,
Dutch IBCLC, living in -these days- snowy Germany, teaching in Belgium.
 

 

		
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