Actress Neha Dhupia’s breastfeeding and parenting initiative ‘Freedom To Feed’ Instagram account shared how meditation can benefit new mothers.
Being a new mom can be stressful, especially when you’re juggling breastfeeding with other responsibilities. So, it is advisable to meditate.
Most mothers are full of self-doubt and confusion during the feeding of the baby. Adopting relaxation tools or guided meditation can help at this time to help the mother cope with the new role and provide a moment of peace and self-care.
What the research says on Breastfeeding vs. Meditation
Studies from the 1980s and beyond have shown, that Mothers who used relaxing music or guided meditations whilst expressing milk, produce significantly higher quantities of milk with a higher fat content, than those who do not use relaxation tools.
A more recent study showed that Mothers who listened to a breastfeeding relaxation track twice a day whilst feeding their baby had less cortisol in their milk and had babies who took in more milk, grew faster, and slept for an average of 72 minutes a day longer than the control group who didn’t listen to the meditation track.
More research is needed, but the small number of studies that we have, point toward positive outcomes for breastfeeding parents who use meditation or other relaxation practices.
Additionally, connecting with her inner self through meditation helps the mother deal with the stress and gain confidence in her abilities and capacities. Babies also benefit from the flow of feel-good hormones and be more relaxed. This, in turn, helps both mother and baby with learning how to breastfeed.
How to practice meditation?
Follow these simple steps:
- Find a cozy and quiet spot where you can have your space and will not be disturbed.
- Close your eyes and focus your attention. Breathe in, and when you release your breath, think of it as tension leaving your body.
- As you breathe in and out, try to let go of any wandering thoughts and control your emotions.
- No matter how many distractions or responsibilities you have, do not tiptoe back to those thoughts, otherwise, you will not be able to practice mindful meditation.
- For maximum rewards, repeat meditation at least twice a day for twenty minutes each.
Ref: https://www.vogue.in