Elimination Communication and Breastfeeding

EC Could be the Answer to Your Breastfeeding Woes

Elimination communication (or EC for short) is a fancy term for allowing a baby opportunities to pee or poop in a potty. It's not the same as potty training a toddler. It's more of a collaborative effort between parent and child. When the baby signals the need to pee or poop, or it happens to be a convenient transition time, the parent removes the diaper or clothing and holds the baby over a potty.

Those of us who practice elimination communication often see issues raised in breastfeeding support groups and think, "Oooh, oooh, I know the answer! EC can solve that!". I'm like a school girl with her hand raised high in the air thinking, "Teacher, call on me!". But when we share our perspective we are often met with silence. Probably brushed off as crazy. So I wrote this post to provide a deeper explanation of the intersection between breastfeeding and elimination communication. Yes, the concept of elimination communication may sound crazy the first time you hear of it. And maybe the second time... But I'm hoping by the third time you'll stop and consider it for a bit.

Popping Off (Unlatching) While Nursing

Has this scenario ever happened to you? Your baby is showing her normal cues that she is hungry and wants to breastfeed. You offer your breast and your baby latches on for a second, only to pop right off. You offer again and your baby straightens her body and cries a bit in protest. You're left bewildered, wondering why she is acting hungry but refusing to eat. After a little while of trying different things, your baby latches on and drinks her milk.

You go to a support group or lactation consultant for help and are told that you might have "over active let down" and your milk is coming out too fast for your baby. That is a possibility, but here's another one:

Your baby may be popping off the breast while breastfeeding because she needs to pee!

Have you ever been in the situation where your bladder is full and someone hands you a nice cold drink? The first thing that runs through your mind is, "I can't drink this until I go pee!". That's how your baby feels when her bladder is full and you offer the breast.

So why doesn't she just pee in her diaper? Here's something you probably didn't read in a baby book or hear in a baby care class: babies prefer not to pee on themselves or their caregivers. If given the option to pee away from their body, they prefer that option to peeing in a diaper. But if the diaper is the only option, your baby will give in and pee in the diaper and then go on to breastfeed.

I'm here to let you know that the diaper doesn't have to be the only option. You can also offer your baby "pottytunities", or opportunities to use the potty. The fancy term for this concept is "elimination communication". Or as I like to describe it, "sometimes I let my baby pee in the potty".

Needing to eliminate is just one possible reason for popping of the breast while nursing. If your baby continues to pop off the breast throughout a breastfeeding session along with coughing and choking, you may want to research the symptoms of tongue tie.

Gymnurstics

I often see moms in breastfeeding groups post silly photos of their nurslings doing #gymnurstics. Babies and toddlers can pull off some pretty acrobatic moves while breastfeeding!

Any time I see a baby nursing with his legs straight and butt up in the air, I think how my baby only did that when he needed to poop.

So if your baby starts straightening his legs and doing yoga poses while nursing, it might be the perfect opportunity to offer the potty right after that nursing session. Let me know if you catch a poop!

Waking at Night: Hungry, or Just Needing to Pee?

I made an interesting discovery with my second baby, with whom I have been practicing EC since birth. Sometimes when she starts tossing and turning at night and looking like she's about to rouse, I offer the potty and after peeing she goes peacefully back to sleep. Other times I take longer to wake and respond and she's rolled onto her belly and started inch-worming up the bed. I can feel that her cloth diaper is wet, so I change her into a dry diaper, and before even nursing, she is sound asleep.

Sometimes my baby wakes at night simply because she needs to pee, not because she is hungry.

With my first baby, I would nurse and offer the potty at the same time. Nursing helped to relax him enough to pee. With my second baby, I have a different routine. I offer the potty first, to catch a pee. Then I breastfeed her. This routine helped me to realize that sometimes she just needs to empty her bladder.

Early Morning Tossing and Turning and Frequent Nursing

I've often seen moms asking about their babies becoming restless and nursing frequently during the early morning hours. Having practiced elimination communication with two babies and actively participated in EC support groups, it's pretty clear to me what's going on. Your baby needs to pee and/or poop!

It's unlikely that your baby will settle back into a sound sleep until his elimination needs are met.

Try this experiment. The next time your baby starts tossing and turning around 5-6am in the morning and nursing doesn't help to settle him: remove his diaper, hold him in EC hold over a little potty (with one of your hands under each of his thighs and his back resting against your belly), and make a "pssss" sound. If nothing happens at first, take a deep breath and exhale in a relaxing sigh. If he pees and/or poops, put on a fresh diaper and lay him back in bed. It's best to keep the lights dim and temperature warm, so as not to startle or disturb him.

Learning to Potty Your Baby is Like Learning to Breastfeed

Learning your baby's elimination communication signals is like learning her hunger cues. At first it may feel like you don't know what your baby needs. But over time, you start to understand what your baby is communicating. Some of my baby's hunger cues include crying "nay", sucking on my shoulder, and making an adorable frowning face. Some of her elimination communication signals include becoming agitated, trying to crawl out of my arms, and blowing raspberries.

You are already in close contact with your baby while breastfeeding and babywearing, so it can be easier to notice her elimination communication signals at those times. What helped me learn my newborn baby's elimination communication signals was having her wear a cloth diaper without a waterproof cover. I would keep a wool puddle pad under her, to prevent pee from leaking through onto my clothing or the bed.

Your baby's natural timing of peeing and pooping may be synchronized with their breastfeeding routine.

For example, my baby pees before nursing and poops right after nursing. It's possible to breastfeed a newborn baby over a top hat potty. Or you can offer the potty before and after nursing.

You Don't Have to Wait Until You Figure Out Breastfeeding to Start EC

I often see people in the Facebook EC support groups mention that they are planning to wait to start elimination communication until they figure out breastfeeding. That was also my line of thought with my first baby. Breastfeeding was my top priority.

What I didn't realize, was that practicing elimination communication from birth can actually help with breastfeeding. Like I mentioned above, fussiness at the breast or refusing to nurse when acting hungry can be due to the need to pee or poop. If you choose to start EC right away, you can simultaneously learn your baby's hunger cues and elimination communication signals.

I felt so blessed with my second baby that I pretty much always understood the needs she was communicating. A little sad frown meant she was hungry and wanted to nurse. If she had a full belly and was content but then started to flail in an agitated manner or fuss, she needed to pee. If she started rubbing her face, she was tired and wanted to take a nap.

At the heart of elimination communication is COMMUNICATION. It's amazing the two-way communication you can have with your baby!

Resources for Learning more about Elimination Communication

Just like with breastfeeding, the more you learn about EC, the easier it is to do!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, I will earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support!

• BOOK: Go Diaper Free: A Simple Handbook for Elimination Communication by Andrea Olson (Receive 15% off any Go Diaper Free products with coupon code ECPEESY15.)
• ONLINE CLASSES: Go Diaper Free Online MiniCourses
• BLOG POST: Starting Elimination Communication: When to Potty
• BLOG POST: Starting Elimination Communication: How to Potty
• BLOG POST: Preparing for Elimination Communication with a Newborn
• ARTICLE: EC and Breastfeeding - Diaper Free Baby
• ARTICLE: Elimination Communication and Breastfeeding my Nappy Free Baby
• VIDEO: Newborn Elimination Communication Supplies

And my all-time favorite book about breastfeeding is The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League.

That wraps up my thoughts on the intersection between breastfeeding and elimination communication. I'm curious to hear from you about your experience with breastfeeding and/or elimination communication.