the thompson method of breastfeeding
Four children, four very different breastfeeding experiences, and still I am learning so much.
A handful of years ago, I started a list of the gals I’ve come across that I aspire to study with — to sit at their feet and drink in the wisdom they share. At some point last summer, I had listened to a discussion with Robyn Thompson, an Australian midwife with 50+ years of experience working with women in both hospital and homebirth settings. Upon hearing her speak, I immediately wrote down her website for future reference and added her to my list of “women I must sit with one day.”
Most recently it seems what women are needing from me most pressingly is breastfeeding support, and while I have my own lived experiences and have gathered women’s stories over the years, this has felt like the hat tip to explore deeper into Robyn’s teachings.
And oh my lanta. I am amazed.
Robyn’s work weaves together so many pieces for me.
She teaches the importance of latching in a way that supports baby’s oral function and intra oral cavity development, prevention of nipple trauma and engorgement and how we can tailor this to each mother, regulating milk supply (low/high supply), connection and bonding between mother and baby, getting in a milk session rhythm that creates ease of digestion for baby to get that elimination system flowing without a painful belly, and the big piece of how breastfeeding in itself turns on and supports the tuning in of baby’s sensory skills — smelling, touching and locating, tasting, listening.
Above all, her message is individualized care.
As I’ve gone through her lessons, so many dots have connected for me from each of our kiddo’s stories. As I’ve come to really love the art of fascia work and the importance of nasal and airway formation, I can see how Robyn’s teaching really supports not only successful and enjoyable breastfeeding, but the future of babe’s development.
The main pieces of the Thompson Method are:
Latching with “Face to Breast Symmetry” — the nostrils resting on the contours of the breast, the point of the chin to be deep in the breast, and both cheeks snug against the breast.
No visible gaps around these four points.
Supporting baby’s drawing in of the nipple into the soft palatal cleft to prevent any damage to momma’s nipple, preventing nipple trauma, as well as teaching baby to use their full oral cavity and posterior tongue (which helps set them up for beautiful cranial bone formation, btw)
Feeding babe with both breasts at each milk session, with a rest and digest period between each breast for pre-digestion of milk in order to prevent gastric pains. This practice also supports the spacing out of milk sessions, so mom’s not frequent feeding and is getting a chance to rest.
Feeding baby to both gastric and emotional satisfaction.
Being aware of the risks of devices like nipple shields, pacifiers, and bottles that aren’t to the correct length that then can train baby not to utilize their full intra oral cavity. As we utilize these tools (that are sometimes necessary), it can be disruptive to successful breastfeeding and pain-free breastfeeding.
The experience of early breastfeeding is a true reflection of each unique mother, baby, birth, cumulation of the family histories we’ve threaded together through this baby, the stories we’ve been given around nourishment, how we’ve been taught (whether directly or socially) to feed babies (aka, what’s normal for us), and even how we ourselves are fed. There are many many layers, and it can be altogether so simple, yet carry a different challenge for each woman. Which to me highlights yet again the importance of personalized, individual, tailored support and care from a trusted woman (or better, women) who know what it is to be in that first week postpartum and the bigness of it all.
It’s just not always as simple as “latch and feed the baby.”
The stats show that while 83% of babies in the US start out receiving breastmilk, at 1 month this dips to 78%, and then to 24% by 6 months. The CDC even says, “The rates of any breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding steadily decline from month to month. This finding indicates that breastfeeding mothers may need stronger support systems to reach their breastfeeding goals.”
So this tells me a few things —
1) Women need more and better support.
2) Women need to remember and be reminded of the value of what breastfeeding is in a world that offers every other option possible.
3) We must create a culture that upholds and supports mothers to breastfeed without pressuring them to do the double time of full on mothering and also sustaining a career.
The magic that happens in the process of breastfeeding cannot be replaced with any alternative available — now or ever. The milk we make is everything baby needs, created exactly as they need it, at exactly the right temperature, and as we deliver it to them from our own body, we are sharing with them the story of who they are, who we are, and imprinting on them that they are safe, loved, and cared for. It is so much more than just milk transfer. It’s fostering for them a strong digestive system, it’s creating for them safety in their nervous system, it’s fine tuned immune system development, it’s brain stimulation and muscle strengthening for the future of their jaw development, and more.
There is as many variations to this experience as there are mothers in the world, and because of this, having a base understanding of how to help mommas work with their unique body and baby to create a mutually enjoyable and sustainable breastfeeding experience is so important to me. It is quite literally the foundation of the future generations, and if I can help mommas fulfill their desire to achieve this, I’m here for it.
So as I sit with freshly born mothers and babies, I will carry with me my own lived experiences, the stories of women that have taught me so much, and now these tools from Robyn Thompson that make perfect sense and should be standard care and education for mothers, yet have been missing from the practice of lactation support as far as I have seen or heard thus far.
If this sparks something for you, Robyn’s got courses specifically for mommas to go through prenatally. Here’s her website. While breastfeeding is highly instinctual, gathering a nest of wise women support and knowledge pre-birth is a mindful choice as we remember this design that has been with us since the beginning of people.
With love and warmth always,
Gab