Breastfeeding was a huge part of raising Roo. Huge, like 22 months huge! And I respect everyone’s opinion and fully believe that they should do what’s best for their baby. If formula works for your baby, then more power to you.
The only problem I have with formula and babies is that I never used it. So I know nothing about formula (except that it’s expensive) and can’t share that experience with my readers.
All I know about is breastfeeding from experience and I adored it. I never felt more connected to a human being in my life! To know I was providing for my baby, just me, no one else was a powerful experience.
I plan on nursing Miss Turtle for as long as she’ll let me. I never had a timeline for Roo when we started out. It was just please let us make it to six months… then it was set for a year. Then it just went on and on and on until at 22 months we called it quits.
I chose to breastfeed because I’d done my research and read it was wonderful for the baby. Besides to be honest, it also helped that it was free!
According to Medela , some of the benefits to breastfeeding are:
-Research shows that breastfed infants have fewer and shorter episodes of illness.
-Breastfeeding is the most natural and nutritious way to encourage your baby’s optimal development.
-Colostrum (the first milk) is a gentle, natural laxative that helps clear baby’s intestine, decreasing the chance for jaundice to occur.
-The superior nutrition provided by breastmilk benefits your baby’s IQ.
-Breastfeeding is a gentle way for newborns to transition to the world outside the womb.
-The skin-to-skin contact encouraged by breastfeeding offers babies greater emotional security and enhances bonding.
-The activity of sucking at the breast enhances development of baby’s oral muscles, facial bones, and aids in optimal dental development.
-Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of obesity and hypertension.
-Breastfeeding delays the onset of hereditary allergic disease, and lowers the risk of developing allergic disease.
-Breastfeeding helps the baby’s immune system mature, protecting the baby in the meantime from viral, bacteria, and parasitic infections.
-Breastfeeding increases the effectiveness of immunizations, increasing the protection against polio, tetanus, and diptheria vaccines.
-Breastfeeding protects against developing chronic diseases such as: celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, and childhood cancers.
Not only is it good for baby, it’s good for Mama… why you ask? Medela says:
-Research shows that breastfeeding benefits the health of mothers.
-Breastmilk is always fresh, perfectly clean, just the right temperature, and is the healthy choice at the least cost!
-Increased levels of oxytocin stimulate postpartum uterine contractions, minimizing blood loss and encouraging rapid uterine toning.
-From 3 months to 12 months postpartum, breastfeeding increases the rate of weight loss in most nursing mothers.
-Breastfeeding offers some protection against the early return of fertility.
-Because breastfed babies are healthier, their mothers miss less work and spend less time and money on pediatric care.
-Breastfeeding women report psychological benefits such as increased self-confidence and a stronger sense of connection with their babies.
Don’t be frightened by anything to do with breastfeeding. It’s not as scary as it seems. You can prepare for breastfeeding by attending a breastfeeding class given by your local hospital or you can contact the La Leche League International for classes and support.
4 comments:
Thank you for all of these tips. I fully intend on breastfeeding my child and honestly knew that it was the BEST choice for both myself and my child.
I am happy to hear that it's been such a positive experience for both you and your little one :)
thanks for the resourceful links always!
My breastfeeding journey with my son is coming to a close. Since November, I've cut back on his feedings. We started the weaning process simple by stopping the nap time one in November and the evening one in December. In my mind, I wanted to be finished altogether by his 2nd birthday on the 22nd. Over the last month, he's shown less and less interest in nursing when he wakes up (nursing shorter amounts of time, only one side). This morning, however, he didn't ask for it nor did he show interest in it when I offered. I believe after almost 2years our time is wrapping up!
I'm a bit saddened by this. Two years was the time that I had always imagined in my head and now that he's almost two, it brings tears to my eyes to think "our time" is over.
I attempted to nurse my twins for 3 months. They were premature and the feeding process took approximately 2 hours (including pump time). It became physically too much for me to handle when one feeding finished up just in time for the next to begin. I wish I could have lasted with them.
My son, I nursed him in the face of constant criticism from certain people in my "family" circle. We lasted 15 months before he decided he was done. I cherish that time we had together.
Breastfeeding was one of the most encouraging parts of having a newborn with my first. I think without out, I would have had a much harder time... She nursed for 20 months, even while I was pregnant with my second, oops. My second successfully nursed for 18 months until we had to take a business trip, then came #3 shortly after, that apparently happens when nursing is your birth control. We saved thousands of dollars and I never had to listen to a screaming baby while warming up a bottle. That saved many a nights that hubs had to work early. Thank God for boobs!
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