From engorgement, milk supply and honestly just finding the time to actually feed, breastfeeding can be a challenge. There’s also much beauty to be found in breastfeeding—not only in bonding with your baby but building confidence and appreciation for your body. In fact, there are some benefits of breastfeeding nude, not just for your little squish but for you, too.
Skin-to-skin breastfeeding offers a range of physical and emotional benefits for both mother and baby. From regulating your baby’s heart rate and body temperature to reducing the risk of postpartum bleeding and stimulating milk production, the benefits of breastfeeding nude might just be a game changer for you. While it may seem unconventional or uncomfortable at first, more mothers are discovering the advantages of this intimate bonding experience.
Here, we’ll explore the many benefits of breastfeeding nude, from enhancing your baby’s development to promoting maternal well-being. With insights from experts, we’ll dive into why this practice can be a powerful addition to your breastfeeding routine. So whether you are a seasoned breastfeeding pro or you’re just starting out on your breastfeeding journey, reading this article will give you all the information you need to start breastfeeding nude.
- What Does Breastfeeding Nude Involve?
- Physical Benefits of Breastfeeding Nude
- Emotional and Psychological Benefits
- Benefits for Premature and NICU Babies
- Addressing Concerns About How To Breastfeeding Nude
What Does Breastfeeding Nude Involve?
Breastfeeding nude is exactly what it sounds like. Both you and your baby are undressed to promote closeness and skin-to-skin contact, which is often used immediately after birth. The baby is dried and placed on the mother’s nude chest after birth. This method can later be integrated into your everyday breastfeeding sessions.
The Concept of Skin-to-Skin Contact
Skin-to-skin contact is known to help newborns regulate their body temperature and breathing. Also known as Kangaroo care, skin-to-skin contact is a great way to foster a deeper emotional connection between you and your baby. Enhancing that mother-baby bond can help you feel more connected and in tune with your baby during breastfeeding sessions.
Physical Benefits of Breastfeeding Nude
Breastfeeding nude has plenty of physical benefits for both you and your little one. Besides just feeling extra cozy with your baby, you can actually support your baby’s health. Here, just a few backed-by-science ways it can help you on this new journey:
Enhances Milk Supply
One of the benefits of breastfeeding nude for the mother is that it can boost your milk supply. Breastfeeding nude helps release oxytocin, or the love hormone. Oxytocin actually plays a role in your milk supply. It helps make the milk already in your breast flow ready for a feed. Skin-to-skin contact is one of the best ways to keep your milk flowing, which is critical, especially if you struggle with milk supply.
Improves Baby’s Health
Breastfeeding nude has several physical benefits for your baby. “The practice of nursing while nude helps regulate the baby’s body temperature, heart rate, and breathing,” said Breana Barron, IBCLC, DNP, lactation consultant and Lovevery Childhood Development Expert, said. “Additionally, close contact with the mother’s skin exposes the baby to the mother’s microbiome (the good bacteria), which helps build the baby’s immune system.”
Babies who breastfeed with skin-to-skin contact also tend to feed more frequently because it stimulates your baby’s feeding instincts. During the early stages of breastfeeding, you may experience trouble with latching or getting your baby to feed. Skin-to-skin contact can help your baby want to feed, setting them and you up for success on your breastfeeding journey.
Emotional and Psychological Benefits of Breastfeeding Nude
The emotional and psychological advantages of breastfeeding nude often go hand-in-hand with its physical benefits. Breastfeeding nude can deepen your bond with your baby.
Strengthens the Mother-Baby Bond
One of the most beautiful aspects of breastfeeding nude is that it promotes a stronger bond by fostering a sense of closeness and security for the baby. “Skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding is beneficial to the baby as it brings them back to the familiar scents and sounds of the uterus,” lactation consultant Sarah Peck, RN, MSN, IBCLC, said. “Breastfeeding on a mother’s bare chest allows an infant to hear their mother’s familiar heartbeat and voice. An infant can also smell a fluid secreted by areola Montgomery glands that mimic amniotic fluid.”
Moms who engage in skin-to-skin contact also have an increased sense of attachment to their babies. There’s something very natural about holding your baby skin to skin while breastfeeding. It’s intimate and gives you time to focus on just you and your baby.
Reduces Stress for Both Mother and Baby
Breastfeeding nude also can reduce stress for you and your baby. Skin-to-skin contact helps lower cortisol levels, which is the hormone responsible for stress. As your cortisol levels decrease, you’ll feel more relaxed and calm during breastfeeding. Instead of something you dread, breastfeeding can become something you find special and maybe even enjoyable at times. It can become a peaceful and stress-free experience. In the early days of motherhood, a little moment of peace is exactly what both you and your baby need. Peck also explained that as oxytocin is released, it can help regulate your sleep and wake cycles, which is also something desperately needed in the first months of postpartum.
Benefits for Premature and NICU Babies
For premature babies or infants in the NICU, breastfeeding nude can be especially beneficial. The simple practice of skin-to-skin contact can make a huge difference.
Promotes Healing and Development
Preemies who receive skin-to-skin contact help them develop stronger immune systems and improve overall health. They’re also less likely to be developmentally delayed at one year of age. It also encourages bonding and faster growth in premature infants. Amazing enough, it also promotes weight gain in preemies.
Aids in Faster Recovery
Skin-to-skin contact also helps with faster recovery times and earlier discharge from the hospital. When your baby feels safe and secure through skin-to-skin contact, they can calm down and have moments of peace, which can speed up their healing process. If you are a preemie mom, moments like that will give you emotional reassurance and the closeness you crave with your little one. Also, know that you’re actually doing your part in helping them heal.
Practical Tips for Breastfeeding Nude
If you’re considering breastfeeding nude, here are some practical tips to help you feel comfortable and ensure a safe experience for you and your baby.
Creating a Comfortable Environment
First, set up a private and cozy space where you feel comfortable to breastfeed nude. This could be your bedroom, a quiet corner, or anywhere you feel comfy and relaxed. Have a soft blanket nearby to keep you and your baby warm, especially if you’re in a cooler environment. The overall goal is for you to be as comfortable as possible. So, if you need to play some music, dim the lights or have a TV show playing in the background, feel free to do so.
Supporting Baby’s Positioning
Next, make sure you are using proper positioning during your breastfeeding session. Use pillows and breastfeeding supports to ensure both you and your baby are in a supportive position. Proper positioning allows your baby to latch more comfortably while you breastfeed nude. Also, making sure that you’re not pulling your back or your neck can help you focus on the bond between you and your baby.
Addressing Concerns About Breastfeeding Nude
Many mothers may have reservations about breastfeeding nude due to concerns about privacy or discomfort. Address these concerns to help ease mothers into trying this beneficial practice.
Privacy and Modesty
While breastfeeding nude might feel vulnerable, it’s important to remember it’s a natural practice. As you learn how to breastfeed nude, start in the privacy of your own home until you feel more comfortable, and don’t feel pressured to breastfeed nude in public spaces, unless you want to and then you should feel empowered to do so!
“Breastfeeding is a personal experience, and mothers should do what feels best for them and their baby. I remind my patients to establish boundaries for themselves, especially with visitors, during the postpartum period. Allow yourself the privacy, if desired, to spend ample time bonding in the nude with your little one,” Barron explained. “Don’t be afraid to tell others to give you space! Give your body and your mind some grace during the postpartum period—you just grew and birthed a human—that’s an incredible feat! It may not look exactly how it once did, but your body is continuing to change and adapt in a beautiful way that is designed in a way that allows your little one to flourish.”
Dealing with Cold or Uncomfortable Temperatures
If you’re concerned you might feel cold or uncomfortable while nude, keep your room nice and toasty. Use soft, breathable fabrics for yourself and your baby to prevent discomfort during the session. You could also use a lightweight blanket and wrap it around yourself if needed.
We know breastfeeding nude can feel unconventional or strange at first, but the physical, emotional and psychological benefits that it brings for both you and your baby make it worth learning how to breastfeed nude.
From promoting milk supply to boosting your baby’s health and strengthening the maternal bond, there are so many benefits of breastfeeding nude. “Breastfeeding is a very natural process despite our culture not socializing it as such. You can breastfeed skin-to-skin or completely nude if it makes you feel more centered and calm as a new parent, but you can also choose not to,” Barron said “You are the director of your newborn feeding journey with your infant.”.
