Meditation Increases Newborn Weight Gain
In November 2023 a new review of the evidence for Mindful Breastfeeding was published. Each time I see a paper like this published I go shouting it from the social media rooftops. It’s clear to me and so many others in the birth/breastfeeding world that a new approach is badly needed but as you may already be aware even when an intervention has been shown to be effective and reduces harms - it can take up to 17 years for evidence to make it’s way into actual hospital practice (by then your newborn will be heading off to college...).
The Effects of Mindfulness on Lactation: An Integrative Review (Journal of Breastfeeding Medicine).
What were the main takeaways of this analysis?
Nine articles met the inclusion criteria. Six of the studies were RCTs (Level II evidence). Six key themes were identified. Mindfulness techniques reduce perceived and physiologic maternal stress and increase infant growth, particularly in the late preterm early term infant population.
Infant behavior was also impacted by maternal mindfulness techniques as well as maternal milk volume, expression, and breastfeeding/pumping frequency. However, the effectiveness of mindfulness techniques is dose-dependent. (Women who meditated more than 7 times recorded an increase in milk supply). One study in this review found that more time spent meditating was associated with increases in infant weight and bigger reductions in maternal stress.
Conclusions: Mindfulness techniques are a simple and practical tool for postpartum mothers that have the potential to improve both lactation and infant outcomes.
