Why Should I Choose Breastfeeding?Human milk has stood the test of time, helping countless generations of babies to move from dependent infant into independent child. It's easily digested and most of the nutrients are absorbed by your baby - more than with any other infant food! Nursing gives you an advantage. Nursing will help your uterus move back towards its pre-pregnancy shape more quickly and completely. Powerful hormones are also released as you breast feed your baby, helping you relax and enjoy your child. Breastfeeding Gives Everything Your Baby NeedsHuman milk has all the proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals that your baby needs. Your milk changes from day to day to suit your baby!It's tailored to meet her nutrition needs. It also helps her learn the flavors and foods you love so that she is familiar with your family's diet! Artificial baby milks have to be diluted or enriched to become substances that babies can use for food. The bases of these formulas are proteins that were not meant for human babies to consume. The advantages of human milk are really the standard - it is baby formulas that have disadvantages. Human milk has cholesterol in it, which is vital for your baby's development. She needs cholesterol - her nutritional requirements are different from those of an adult. Baby also needs the healthy fats in your milk. Human milk has natural fatty acids in it - DHA and ARA. The synthetic versions of these fatty acids in formula may not be tolerated well by babies. You can safely increase these fatty acids in your milk with natural supplements - read more about fish oils and breast milk to learn how. Your milk also has lactose, an important sugar in it. Lactose is in just the right proportion; no other sugars need to be added as they must in artificial baby milks. In addition your milk has iron in it. This iron is in a highly bio-available form, meaning that it is well-absorbed. Formulas must add so much iron because babies cannot digest the iron from them very well. There is bone building calcium in your milk. It has vitamin D in small amounts, which your baby needs to turn the calcium into strong bones. Your baby has stores of vitamin D built up in pregnancy. She also gets vitamin D from sun exposure. Just a few minutes of sunlight on her cheeks daily is enough for her to make the vitamin D she needs. If she has a dark complexion, she may need more sunlight. If you are rarely outside or if you wear traditional clothing that covers much of your body, you may want to ask your baby's doctor about supplementing vitamin D - a natural supplement (such as a cod liver oil for you) is probably best. Generally you will not want to supplement your baby, because dropping a supplement of artificial substances into your baby's mouth can upset the delicate balance of her body. Breastfeeding Continues Your Special BondYou and your baby have an intimate connection that began as soon as you felt that you were pregnant. It grew as your baby grew within you and you marveled at the little person kicking you. Nursing is the best and most natural choice to continue your bond.You will find that your baby craves you more than anything else in the world. Your arms, your breasts, and your warm milk will make her happy. Nursing and keeping your baby close will help you learn the art of mothering. Experts such as Dr. William Sears observe that mothers who breastfeed their babies are more "in tune" with the needs of their infants. Nursing is a natural extension of pregnancy and birth, and good mothering flows out of the bond you have with your baby. Even if you and your baby don't have the start that you've been dreaming of because of a premature or surgical birth (or perhaps an extended hospital stay) you can probably still enjoy the benefits of a breastfeeding relationship. You'll also benefit from the mothering intuition that nursing your baby will help you to develop. Breastfeeding Protects Your BabyYour milk will give your baby amazing protection against illness. This protection begins with your colostrum in the first few days after birth and continues as long as you breastfeed.Not being breastfed places babies at risk. The consequences of not getting human milk are life threatening for babies in third world countries where breastfeeding infants are gifted with a higher chance of survival. Even in the developed world babies fed with artificial milk are more at risk of illness. Study after study proves that breastfed babies get sick less often. Your milk sends antibodies to your baby. Secretory immunoglobulin, or sIgA, is the most well know of these antibodies. It protects your baby's mucous membranes - these line much of her digestive track as well as much of her respiratory system. This protection is vitally important to your baby and covers one of the most sensitive areas of her body. Your body will produce antibodies specifically for your environment. When you are exposed to germs, your body reacts with antibodies. These antibodies are sent right through your milk to your baby! Remarkably, if your baby picks up a germ and gives it to you (perhaps through nursing), your body makes an antibody and sends it right back to her! Human milk gives babies protection against illness. Breastfed babies have fewer infections than babies given formulas. Breastfed babies also have higher resistance against chronic illnesses, including type 1 and 2 diabetes. There is also evidence that babies who are breastfed have increased protection from SIDS. Breastfeeding your baby can give her protection from allergies. Delaying her exposure to common allergens (such as cow’s milk and soy found in infant formulas) can give her the time she needs to develop so that allergies do not develop. Allergies are an immune system reaction to a substance in the body. Nursing your baby can allow her immune system to develop without being burdened by strange food substances. Sometimes breastfed babies still develop allergies, particularly if there is a strong family history of allergies. Your milk still does wonders for your baby! You are able to give her the benefit of your nutritious milk. You have peace of mind knowing she is being well-nourished while you slowly introduce foods. You can also feel more confident leaving allergic foods out of her diet knowing that she has your milk. Breastfeeding Gives Your Baby a Smart StartStudies have also shown that breastfeeding enhances cognitive development. Children who were breastfed showed higher scores which were statistically significant on intelligence testing. These tests have shown differences even in seven and eight year olds. Many factors come into play in intelligence, but you can be sure that your milk is designed to help your baby’s mind develop optimally.Your milk also benefits your baby in other ways. It helps her face and jaw to develop properly. It gives her added protection from obesity in later life. It also provides her with pain relief. Besides all these benefits, breastfeeding your baby helps to forge a close bond between the two of you. It a beautiful relationship. Breastfeeding is Best for YouBreastfeeding has specific benefits for you as well. These go beyond the close bond with your baby and the assurance that you are providing her with the best nutrition possible. Your body produces high quality milk by a remarkable and well-designed process. Your breasts will respond to your baby’s demand and make just the right amount of milk for her. Click here to learn how your body makes milk for your baby.Breastfeeding will effect your reproductive cycle. Nursing your baby can cause your body to stay in a state of amenorrhea longer after giving birth. This means that you have no menstrual cycles or ovulation. If your baby is nursing often at night and during the day, your ability to conceive again may be postponed. Scientists have outlined a method of delaying fertility called the Lactation Amenorrhea Method, read more here. Also learn about birth control for nursing mamas. Lactational amenorrhea is a normal state. Some experts believe that the modern day experience of years of periods is not the optimum situation. They believe that it is far more normal for women to go for extended time without a period - as they do during pregnancy and subsequent lactation. These experts feel that women who have had fewer periods due to breastfeeding their infants may have a lower chance of developing cancers of the reproductive system. Breastfeeding Protects YouThere is some evidence that nursing a baby lowers your risk for osteoporosis later in life. Your body takes calcium from your bone reserves during lactation, but once your baby begins solids and weans your body replaces the calcium at an increased rate. Studies have shown that women who breastfed are at lower risk of hip fracture and other bone problems.There is mounting evidence that breastfeeding protects women against breast cancer. Large meta analysis (reviewing the results of many studies and showing the combined data) shows that women who breastfeed have a lower incidence of breast cancer than women who do not breastfeed. These studies also show that women who were breastfed themselves seem to have a lower risk of breast cancer, so you are giving yourself and your daughters protection by nursing! Breastfeeding Saves You MoneyBreast feeding has economic advantages for you as well. Using formula can cost anywhere between $1,160 and $3,915! Even if you receive assistance from the United State’s Women Infants and Children program (WIC), you will still have to pay for some of your baby’s formula.The cost savings of nursing your baby are also seen by your baby’s good health. You pay less in medical bills, prescription costs, and insurance co-pays because your baby stays healthier than she might if she were being fed artificial baby milk. Breastfeeding Saves Lives in EmergenciesIf you and your baby should ever encounter an emergency situation, your milk will truly be gold. Even if the power is out and the water is not running, your milk will be there for your baby. Even if you are lost in the woods or stranded in your car, your milk will be there for your baby. Nursing is truly a wonderful thing. Read Christine's story to see how breastfeeding saved her baby during a natural disaster (if you have a story about breastfeeding your baby in an emergency situation and would like to share contact me! )
Breastfeeding is WonderfulNursing your baby is a pleasurable experience. You will find it relaxing and enjoyable to take time out of your busy day to sit and be with your baby. You will be able to interact with her. After she drifts off and sleeps peacefully in your lap you may be able to get some reading done. Or you can just enjoy looking at your precious little one.Your body and your baby expect to breastfeed. Nursing is a natural continuum moving from pregnancy and birth. By breastfeeding your baby, you have access to an instant mothering tool that will help you grow more confident in yourself and your mothering instincts. And you will have a happy baby! Choosing to breastfeed your child is giving her the gold standard, and giving both of you a great start in your journey together.
To learn more about the advantages of breastfeeding, I highly recommend La Leche League’s The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
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. It is an exhaustive and comprehensive guidebook to all things nursing. You will find it invaluable to read during pregnancy, to guide you through the early weeks, and to reference throughout your nursing relationship.