Let’s face it breast feeding sucks! No literally, it sucks. The infant is sucking on your breast full of nutrients in order to survive and grow..and prosper and it’s wonderful.
It’s the first introduction into motherhood after you deliver.They put the baby(or should have) on your chest straight after the baby takes his/her first breath,the newborn latches on (I’m being Optimistic) and then ….you feel it.The flow of milk swells your breasts to nourish the one person that you will forever be in love with (hopefully).
Now for me breast feeding was great (for my first child)
The greedy lil bum latched on and suckled away for the first 20minutes of her life. The Non finicky eater she was then and still is now.
Now on to child number two……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
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That boy bit me!!!!!
Yes he did! with his lil cute gums that looks so soft and innocent looking.The brat tried to chew my nipple off!!
I was a trooper, for the first 3months but in the end I decided that my size D breast then (originally B ) had enough abuse and that I liked my nipples the way they were. I just couldn’t allow myself anymore torture and possible disfigurement.Hey, at least I tried. As a young mother I new all to well about breast feeding.I went to Lamaze classes,I read books,I watched TLC on cable everyday and my mother nursed my sister and I. So I already knew how I was going to nourish my child. I ate right, took care of my body etc.
I know for some mothers it’s really hard for the first couple days. The newborn may not latch on properly and it can be a painful situation. There are other issues ,breast feeding in public, engorgement,cracking of the nipples,seeming as it’s not enough milk for your baby, The lack of support from your family (one of my family members would think my breast milk was starving the baby. She would do anything she could to put cereal in the bottle or would just give her formula instead…THE NERVE) the father’s need to participate in the infant feeding etc. There’s a myriAd of issues that come along with nursing. But what rises above all are the benefits of breast feeding .Here’s a list of some.
- It protects your baby from a long list of illness.
Numerous studies from around the world have shown that stomach viruses, lower respiratory illnesses, ear infections, and meningitis occur less often in breastfed babies and are less severe when they do happen. Exclusive breastfeeding (meaning no solid food, formula, or water) for at least six months seems to offer the most protection.
- Can protect your child from developing allergies.
Babies who are fed a formula based on cow’s milk or soy tend to have more allergic reactions than breastfed babies.
- Breastfeeding may boost your child’s intelligence.
Another study of almost 4,000 children showed that babies who were breastfed had significantly higher scores on a vocabulary test at 5 years of age than children who were not breastfed. And the scores were higher the longer they had been nursed.
- Breastfeeding may protect your child from obesity.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding as a way to help reduce your child’s risk of becoming overweight or obese. An analysis of 17 studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology shows that breastfeeding reduces a child’s risk of becoming overweight as a teen or adult. The strongest effect is in children who were exclusively breastfed, and the longer the baby was breastfed the stronger the link.
- Breastfeeding may lower your baby’s risk of SIDS.
A large German study published in 2009 found that breastfeeding – either exclusively or partially – is associated with a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The researchers concluded that exclusive breastfeeding at 1 month of age cut the risk of SIDS in half.
- Breastfeeding can reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression.
The National Institutes of Health reviewed more than 9,000 study abstracts and concluded that women who didn’t breastfeed or who stopped breastfeeding early on had a higher risk of postpartum depression.
- Breastfeeding may reduce your risk of some types of cancer
Numerous studies have found that the longer women breastfeed, the more they’re protected against breast and ovarian cancer. For breast cancer, nursing for at least a year appears to have the most protective effect. Click here for details at Baby center .com.
….These beneifits don’t even include the saving of money. Yes we all know WIC is a Great program. However, you can wait to get that formula after the first six months. When you explain to them that you are breastfeeding WIC will give provide more nutritional choices for you to eat. Breastfeeding sure does keep some extra change in your pocket!
Then comes the bonding factor of breastfeeding. It’s a wonderful experience of your child looking up at you and you down at him.The eye contact, the tender touch of their hands gently pulling your hair, the smell of their skin, as they get older they touch your face or even smile. If you never believed in magic …now is the time to believe because this is a magical moment. As many of you may know I feel Bonding with your child is the MOST important thing you can do as a mother. It starts when your pregnant. Feeling them grow and live inside of you and then nursing is the next step. So yes ladies it may be uncomfortable at first and frustrating… and maybe a little painful. But hey, welcome to parenthood!!! Many choices to be made as a parent are hard and uncomfortable. SUCK iT UP!!! It’s for the benefit of your child.and as stated above beneficial to you too!
By the way breastfeeding is not supposed to be painful (I am not a masochist) so here’s some resources to help you and creams to use.
Lansinoh Cream for sore Nipples was the best thing since sliced bread for me during the breast feeding phase.
Breast pumps are good for when daddy wants to feed the baby and when you need to store breast milk for going back to work or school or when someone is baby sitting your baby and stuff. click here for consumer picks of breast pumps or here ,here and here for more info on nursing.
P.s. Lets not be like that woman that breast fed her child while driving. thats just like…I don’t know, it’s just a plain bad decision she made.
CC's Kidz 