Breastfeeding & The Fascial System:

The Missing Link to Your Success?

Breastfeeding is a wonderful and natural approach to feeding our newborns. Although many women plan to breastfeed or have been successful in the past, often they are challenged with obstacles that lead to frustration, pain, depression and sometimes defeat. Thus, many women feel their only option is to resort to the bottle with either expressed milk or formula. The most common obstacles to successful breastfeeding that we see are blocked milk ducts, mastitis, latching problems, poor milk production, tongue tied baby or pain due to the posture of breastfeeding. It is helpful to identify the problems, and can sometimes be helped with education and support from Midwives or Lactation Consultants. Unfortunately the solutions offered can only help so much. While we recommend that all women spend some time with their Midwife or Lactation Consultant to help identify possible challenges and strategies, there may be something else impacting you and your baby's success at breastfeeding.

The number of women that suffer with blocked milk ducts or reoccurring breast infections that are treated with antibiotics or simply time, could be reduced significantly if someone would treat the underlying cause. What has been overlooked when addressing treatment for these problems is asking "where did the problem originate?" The majority of us whether we have given birth or not, are carrying around an enormous number of fascial restrictions. These are especially common in areas of recent change or trauma, even in newborns. These restrictions will ultimately compress tissue, pull bones out of alignment, block milk ducts, cause tension or deviations in a baby's jaw, contribute to tongue tie in babies as well as cause numerous aches and pains throughout the body.

What is fascial tissue?

Fascial tissue is composed of approximately 20% elastic fibres and 80% collagen fibres. When in a healthy state, it is very strong yet flexible. It is housed in a fluid-like matrix known as ground substance. It has the tensile strength of 2000psi – that is like pulling a car with your tissue! It is a continuous fibre that appears web-like within the body, expanding three dimensionally from head to toe and skin to spine. Thus, tension or restrictions in one area can pull on the fibres in an entirely different area of the body.

Restrictions in this tissue are caused by trauma, postural imbalances, dysfunctional and/or repetitive movement patterns or inflammation. These will create dehydration of the ground substance causing compression and tremendous tension on the body. Imagine 2000psi of strength pulling down on your joints. Your body will attempt to balance the strain and recruit muscles and other tissue to counter the pulling affect. Over time muscles will fatigue and weaken as they cannot compete with the strength of the fascial tissue. Pregnancy and childbirth are large contributors to restrictions. More so if you had a caesarean section as now there is restrictive scar tissue as well.

What can be done?

Myofascial Release is a therapy that specifically addresses fascial tissue. Skilled therapists feel for the restrictions and then apply gentle but sustained pressure at the initial barrier of the restriction. At first, the elastic component of the fascia will release allowing the collagenous barrier to be engaged. This barrier cannot be forced. The therapist applies gentle pressure. As the collagenous aspect releases, the therapist follows the motion of the tissue until the tissue is released. This time factor is essential for lasting results. Since fascia is designed to protect us against sudden impact and movements that could damage our internal structures (think of how you brace before impact in a fall), it needs to be engaged slowly in order to reverse its protective tightening response. It requires a minimum of 90 to 120 seconds of sustained pressure at (not beyond) the fascial barrier before a fascial restriction will begin to release.

How can Myofascial Release directly help with Breastfeeding complications?

Direct techniques applied to the breast tissue will help decrease the number of adhesions present. By reducing the adhesions, it is common to see an increase in milk production as well as a decrease in infections, duct blockages and pain. Receiving breast treatment can also help to reduce pain felt in the neck and shoulder region. From the extra weight of the breasts, the posture maintained during breastfeeding and restrictions present, the neck and shoulders muscles are often painful as they must counter the strain that the chest is creating. These techniques consist of stretching the tissue so as to allow for the elongation of any restriction. The techniques are also easy enough for moms to continue on their own as part of their self-treatment.

Sometimes the complications of breastfeeding occur with the baby. Because of the increased use of bottles for feeding, many health care practitioners have lost the ability to assess a normal sucking action for an infant. When there are restrictions in the baby's ability to suck correctly, latching may become a problem. Terms such as Tongue-tied, jaw deviation or muscle tension in the jaw are commonly used. These conditions are treatable with using the fascial stretching approach. Mom is often the best therapist for her baby and can be easily taught how to stretch the tissues within the mouth and surrounding area. Frequent treatment after most feedings is the fastest approach to correction of the problems. Since babies' tissue is so new, they respond much faster than adults and often don't require much treatment.

Seeking out a skilled Myofascial Release therapist is a great treatment option. But did you know that you can learn to self-treat as well?

Self-treatment

Myofascial stretching can increase the speed of your progress and help you to create and maintain lasting changes in your body. Myofascial stretching follows the principles of Myofascial Release which uses gentle and sustained pressure into the fascial system. Choose your favourite stretches or yoga routine and try applying the following approach. You will notice how much different you feel and how much longer the results last. This stretching differs from traditional stretches in the following ways:

1. Time element. It takes at least 120 seconds for the fascia to begin to engage so you will want to hold your stretches for at least 3-5 minutes to allow releases to occur. Myofascial stretching affects not only the musculature and the elastic components of the connective tissue but also the collagenous component, which allows for a lasting change within the fascial system.
2. Active Elongation. Without the assistance of your therapist, active elongation allows you to engage the fascial barrier which is the point at which you feel the resistance to the stretch.
3. Presence/Awareness. Tune in and allow yourself to be present, feeling for tension. Direct your breath into tight or restricted areas. Notice the easing or slack that comes as the release takes place. Next elongate into the next barrier and wait patiently for another release to take place. Using your attention in this way will increase the effectiveness of your stretching and enhance your body awareness. Note how different one side feels to the other.

How does it feel?

Myofascial stretching may elicit an array of sensations in the body and these will change as you follow the body further into the tissue, release after release. It can feel like taffy spreading or melting. There can be sensations of burning, ripping, itching, pulsing, tingling or heat. There can be a fluctuation between increased tension and slack in the tissue. The sensations can intensify as a release is occurring and subside as the tissue releases. Over time and with practice, you will feel the fascia loosen and change. Until you are able to feel this, trust that if you are holding your stretch for longer than 120 seconds, change is occurring whether you are able to feel it or not.

Even though you may not be directly stretching the area of restriction, because the fibres of the fascial system are continuous throughout the body, you will reach your areas of tightness indirectly. If you feel that you need additional focus in areas or would like more guided treatment options, you can seek out a trained Myofascial Release Therapist (often a Registered Massage Therapist or Physiotherapist).

As you can see, the fascial system has a huge impact on the movement, functioning, and health of your body. Restrictions from chronic infections and inflammation of the breasts, imbalances of the pelvis, as well as jaw deviations and fascial tightness in your baby can all impact your success of breastfeeding. By simply identifying and treating the cause of the very common challenges with both mom and baby, breastfeeding can be a wonderful and enjoyable experience.