Breastfeeding your baby is an experience to enjoy. It is the ultimate bond between a mother and her baby. Starting out right helps to ensure breastfeeding is a pleasant experience for both you and your baby. It should be trouble free and natural for most mothers.
In this short blog I am going to talk about the 5 benefits of breast feeding and link you to a website that I recommend to all my patients who want to learn more about breast feeding.
I know many mothers will choose to formula feed their babies and that is okay. I am not trying to make anyone feel bad for not breastfeeding their babies. I only want to give you information and you can decide for yourself on what you want to do.
5 Reasons to Breast Feed
1. Nutrients and Protection from Infections – Breastfed babies from the research have decreased rates of infections including respiratory infections, ear infections and diarrhea. Infections also tend to be worse for anyone with poor nutrition.
2. Provides a bonding relationship – you get a lot of cuddle time with your baby. Who can ask for anything more!
3. Benefits to Mom – Research suggests that breastfeeding provides a measure of protection against breast cancer, ovarian cancer and weak bones later in life.
4. Benefits to Not Stopping – Research shows that breast milk is so important that it is the only food or drink your baby needs for the first 6 months of life. Beginning at 6 months of age babies need a variety of foods in addition to breast milk, which continues to provide nutrition and protection. As recommended by Health Canada “Any amount of breast milk is always good for babies”. I have met many mothers who continue to breastfeed their babies until they are two years old or more.
5. Convenient, Portable and Easy on the Budget – the milk is the perfect temperature and your milk is always with you. Well I guess “easy on the budget” can be a 6th reason but I wanted to keep it to 5 …. sorry! 🙂 …. breastfeeding can save hundreds and even thousands of dollars!
Unfortunately breastfeeding doesn’t always go perfectly. The difficulties you may experience can be difficulty attaching the baby to the breast. This can be for many reasons including lack of practice, confidence or knowledge. Remember breastfeeding is a learned skill and practice makes progress. If you are experiencing difficulties seek help early from a health care professional. There are many people who have experience and expertise in positioning and attachment/latch difficulties. Please speak to your doctor or health care provider if your experiencing difficulty as they can direct to the right place to get help in your local area.
Learn from the best at the International Breast Feeding Centre – Jack Newman – He is a world leader on the topic of breastfeeding. Information on his website is available in most languages. Here is the link below:
https://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=5&Itemid=17
Doctors, nurses and health care professionals are here to assist you…..YOU are making the journey.
Love My Life, Your Life and Your babies too!
Peter Eppinga M.D.