How to Cope with Breastfeeding Aversion

Breastfeeding Aversion can be unpredictable and definitely unwanted. While evidence-based research is still sparse on how to cope with it, here are some possible options mothers have tried:

Improve Breastfeeding Stressors

Addressing breastfeeding stressors that a mother has outside of aversion can help minimize aversion discomfort. If baby has a shallow latch or teething that causes the mother pain or perhaps a nursing toddler that likes to “twiddle” or move around, this can contribute to a nursing mother’s discomfort. Eliminating these may help make the aversion more manageable.

Distraction

Distraction is a powerful tool on a nursing mother’s toolbelt. Distracting one's brain from the stressful and negative feelings can help a mother from lingering on them. Some ideas for distraction while nursing are watching tv, reading a book, scrolling on a phone, breastfeed around others, or wearing the baby in a sling so the pair can move around.

Get Enough Sleep and Eat A Nutritious Diet

Sleep and nutrition are important for a nursing mother, especially one experiencing breastfeeding aversion. Parents should try to get 8 hours of sleep per day. Although this can be challenging to achieve at night because of the baby, a mother can take naps and switch nighttime care with a partner to help get more sleep. Eating enough calories and drinking water to thirst can also help.

Magnesium

Some anecdotal evidence suggests that using magnesium supplements can help combat aversion. There are multiple options for how magnesium is used, including creams, lotions, sprays, and pills. A nursing mother should consult her physician about the use of magnesium.

See A Physician

The limited research on breastfeeding aversion indicates that hormones play a potentially significant role in aversion. A breastfeeding mother’s primary healthcare provider can run a blood test to check LH, FSH, prolactin, estrogen, and progesterone levels.

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