by Claire Connolly

Created on: July 19, 2008

At first ambience is important during breastfeeding, more for the mother's sake than the baby's. Babies tend to feed well regardless of what is going on, the only exception being if the mother herself is agitated. The baby can pick up on this quite easily and may drink less than usual or find it more difficult to latch on. The reason why I believe that ambience is more important to the mother than the baby is twofold. One, if the mother is calm and comfortable then chances are the baby will be too. And two, a harried stressed out mother may experience an inhibited let down reflex making the feeding session frustrating for both parties which in turn can lead to further stress.

A relaxed, quiet and comfortable setting can make a huge difference on a mother's breastfeeding experiences. Some babies are easily distracted by noise so it can be a lot easier if they are fed in a quiet, empty room. It is a lot easier to breastfeed a squirming baby privately than it is in a busy shopping centre! As a mother and baby both become more experienced at breastfeeding, the sessions become quicker and hassle free, after all the baby is learning too. This definitely reduces the need for the ambience to be tranquil and laid back and a lot of mothers find that they can literally nurse their child in any setting. But for new mothers in particular, ambience is very important while breastfeeding.

At first, breastfeeding can be stressful. The baby must learn to latch on and the mother must learn the signs that they are in fact latching on correctly. The first few days in particular can be a struggle for a lot of women. On my first child, I literally had no choice but to try and breastfeed in front of strangers and their partners which probably made things a little harder being a naturally shy person and comparing that experience with my second child who I was able to initiate breastfeeding with privately, being on my own and away from prying eyes made it a lot easier to become comfortable and confident at breastfeeding. Even women who have breastfed before can feel like they need time alone in a relaxing atmosphere to get used to breastfeeding again. In those first few weeks in particular, it is essential that women have the time and space to encourage their babies to latch on regularly and in turn boost their breast milk production.

Decent ambience while breastfeeding does not necessarily mean a candlelit room or a deadly silent home. It simply means an atmosphere that the mother and baby are comfortable in. Everyone has their own comfort setting and by that I mean that everyone relaxes in different ways. Some women like to rest and listen to music, others may watch television, even more may like to sit in silence. It all depends on what relaxes you and brings you to your comfort zone. Your baby will more than likely follow your lead so the more relaxed you are, the more settled the baby is likely to be and this will just add to the great experience that breastfeeding can and should be.

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