Breastfeeding

Since I addressed baby food in my last major entry, I thought I would take some time to address the issue of breastfeeding. I am a strong supporter of breastfeeding for both mother and baby. However, if you choose not to, or are unable to, be encouraged there are other options out there, although I am not going to explore those here. It is a personal choice, and one you have to make for yourself. It isn't always easy. With my son, the first 3 weeks were very difficult, but we worked through the problems and didn't give up. I sought help from various resources, and was determined to succeed.

Before my son was born, I purchased and read the book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by the La Leche League International. I do not agree with everything they say, but it is a wonderful resource for mothers who choose to nurse. They go into great depth about various nursing issues, which I am not going to address here. My purpose of this entry is to explain briefly why I believe you should at least try breastfeeding your newborn, not to go into techniques or solutions to problems.

The US Department of Health and Human Services states, "Babies are born to be breastfed!" Breast milk is the most natural source of nourishment. It contains all the needed nutrients for your baby. Your breast milk is unique to you and your baby. It is designed to meet the specific needs of your baby. It is more easily digested and assimilated into their tiny digestive systems. As a baby nurses, the sucking motion promotes the proper development of his/her jaw and facial structure. Another benefit to the baby is that it encourages normal weight gain. Breast fed babies are less likely to be overweight, however, obesity is also determined by lifestyle. Breast milk contains all the right components for the development of the brain and nervous system, as well as many safeguards against the onset of allergies, but that is not the case for all babies. Personally, I had terrible allergies as a child even though my mother nursed me, but who knows how much worse they would have been. Not only does it help with allergies, but it also protects against infection. I nursed my son for 13 months. I would have gone longer, but he was done. He has never had an ear infection. He has only had 2 viruses. One he picked up in the hospital after his surgery, and the other from the church nursery. The only antibiotic he has ever taken has been after his surgery to prevent infection. I can probably count the number of colds he has had on one hand. He will be 2 years old next week. Part of that I do contribute to breast feeding, the other to the fact I am home with him. God has blessed our family in the fact that I can be home. However, I do have many friends that have had to return to work. They nursed their children for their maternity leave. In my opinion, some is better than none. Frequent nursing also helps to limit jaundice.

Not only are there benefits for babies, but the mother benefits as well. If you nurse soon after your baby is born, it helps your uterus contract and get back in shape more quickly than if you didn't nurse. Nursing uses up extra calories, contributing to gradual weight loss. I was amazed at how quickly my pregnancy weight came off after my baby was born. Not only, that, but I was able to lose an additional 10 pounds--and maintain it. Mother's who nurse are less likely to develop breast cancer, ovarian cancer, UTI's, and osteoporosis. Nursing saves money and time. Have you priced a container of formula? Plus, you don't have to warm breast milk. It is always the right temperature and ready to go when baby is hungry. There is no heating up of bottles in the middle of the night.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. My son was not ready for anything else until he was about 6 1/2 months old. Some may be ready for cereal sooner, but don't rush it just because they are "old enough." Make sure the baby is ready.

Nurse as soon as you can after birth. Babies are most ready within the first hour. Unfortunately, I was not able to nurse for about 2 hours after my son was born. He was taken to the nursery almost immediately due to suspicion of a respiratory issue. Thankfully, he was ok, but the delay did make it difficult to get efficient nursing started.

If you are having difficulty, don't give up. Get some support! At most hospitals, there are lactation consultants that you can call even after you are home. Ask friends who have nursed to help with any problems. For me, the lactation consultant that I saw in the hospital had such a horrible bedside manner, she would have been the last person I would have called. Instead, I relied on the help of friends and my mother (who nursed all 3 of us). You can also contact the La Leche League for support in your area. One way to prevent difficulty is to let the hospital staff know that you do not want your child given any type of supplements while in the hospital.

I encourage you to read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding if you are considering breast feeding you baby. It was a great help to me, especially when I encouraged a few problems. I was able to go to the right chapter and take steps to resolve our issues.

www.lalecheleague.org

There are some great resources available on line as well. The US Department of Health and Human Services, the CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all strongly encourage breast feeding. They have provided some great information as well as resources on their sites.

www.womenshelth.gov/Breastfeeding
www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding
www.aap.org/healthtopics/breastfeeding.cfm

Remember breast feeding is a personal choice, but it does provide the best start for your child. May I encourage you to at least try.