Category — Development

What Benefits Does Breastfeeding Give New Mothers?

by Rachel

Most people know and understand that breast is best for their new baby, but have you considered the benefits breastfeeding your baby may offer you as a new mother? Breastfeeding is not just good for your baby – it is great for you too!  In addition to helping you bond with your baby right away; reducing your risk of post partum depression (by keeping your pots-pregnancy hormones more regulated), get the rest you need; and even get you back into your old jeans more quickly, breastfeeding offers these other benefits to every new mother:

1.    Breastfeeding helps your uterus return to its normal size more quickly, reducing maternal blood loss.  Although more of a medical benefit than a practical one that you notice, this is an important factor in getting (and feeling) back to normal and healing more quickly from the traumas of childbirth.

2.    Breastfeeding  often gives new mothers a self-confidence boost by showing them that they do indeed know what they are doing and can handle all of the new responsibilities of motherhood.  Bringing home a new baby can be overwhelming.  Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to get the confidence you will need to tackle the other concerns that are bound to arise in the weeks and years to come.

3.    Breastfeeding can help new mothers get the rest they need for healing after childbirth by forcing them to sit or lie with their infants regularly for feedings.
4.    Breastfeeding can help boost a mother’s immune system (as well as her babies), to help her ward off infections and illness. Plus, breastfeeding mothers tend to eat better, which often increases their immunity and makes them feel better and more energetic.
5.    Breastfeeding helps new moms lose their baby weight more quickly.  Since milk production burns 500-100 calories every day, and can help to increase a woman’s metabolism, most breastfeeding mother’s return to their pre-pregnancy weight in a fraction of the time as their formula feeding counterparts.
6.    Breastfeeding for at least one year reduces a woman’s risk of getting breast, cervical and ovarian cancer by as much as 50%!
7.    Breastfeeding offers a reduced risk to osteoporosis and bone fracture later in life.
8.    Breastfeeding can save hundreds of dollars in formula costs.
9.    Breastfeeding can help reduce a mother’s stress by releasing important stress reducing chemicals into the body during feeding time.
10.    Breastfeeding is fast, easy and convenient.  No need to worry about packing or sterilizing bottles; mixing formula or even having enough.  Go wherever you want, whenever you want.  Simply latch baby on when he/she gets hungry – day or night – and continue with whatever you were doing.

Motherhood can be overwhelming feat at times, so why not reduce your stress and reap some of the added benefits that breastfeeding can offer both you and your baby? It’s a gift only you can give yourself and your baby now and in the future.

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February 13, 2009   No Comments

Why Breast is Best for New Babies

by Rachel

New babies deserve the absolute best start to a healthy life than we can offer.  This often begins with a mother’s choice to breast or bottle feed her new infant.  No mother wants to do something that’s wrong for her new baby, yet many mistakenly believe that high-priced, over advertised formula will give their baby a healthier start than their own milk.  And why wouldn’t they?  After all, most hospitals and doctor’s offices offer free samples upon delivery and hospital discharge, encouraging even breastfeeding mothers to “keep some formula on hand just in case.”  This often send the message to these new mother’s that failure is inevitable and they should be ready to pop open a formula can when it happens.

Forget the baby formula hype and even what you may have heard amongst your friends and family.  The Academy of pediatrics  encourages all new mother’s to at least begin their child’s first few days of life on the breast in order to give them the protein rich,  immune fighting nutrients found in a mother’s pre-milk called colostrum.  Of course the Academy encourages all new mother’s to continue to breastfeed for at least the first year, but acknowledges that if most would just start off with their new babies on the breast, many future illnesses and afflictions could be avoided.

The facts are clear: breastfeeding helps protect children from a variety of common ailments including:

•    chronic ear infections
•    childhood (and adult) obesity – since a baby learns to eat until satisfied on the breast (never being forced to finish a bottle), they learn how to avoid overeating instinctually on the breast.
•    severe allergies
•    food allergies – since breastfed babies have limited (and safe) contact with a a variety of foods through their mother’s milk, they are less apt to develop allergies to food products in the future.
•    breast cancer ( a female child who is breastfed at least 12 months has a 50% less chance of getting breast cancer as an adult than formula fed babies.  That same women, who breastfeeds her own children for 1 year cuts her chances of getting breast cancer by another 50% — amazing!).
•    asthma
•    infections – since breastmilk offers constant immunity protection through a variety of essential nutrients, most breastfed babies tend to have stronger immune systems both as infants and beyond.
•    Diarrhea –
•    juvenile diabetes
•    and even SIDS – no one knows why for sure, but far less breastfed babies die of SIDS than formula fed ones.

Plus, breastfeeding for 6-12 months has also been linked to children with higher IQ’s; better neurological development and even clearer eyesight.

Considering the abundant evidence to the myriad of health benefits breastfeeding offers, doesn’t it make sense to at least give it a try?  Although most experts agree that breastfeeding new babies for at least 12 months gives them the most benefit, even a few days or weeks can offer a baby important germ fighting immunities and other benefits to last a lifetime.

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February 11, 2009   No Comments

Breastfeeding Can Give your Baby Stronger Lungs

by Rachel

We all know that there are many benefits that your baby can get from breastfeeding. Since breast milk is a natural source of milk, it has natural elements like antioxidants. It also helps boost the baby’s immunity helping to combat diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and arthritis to name a few sicknesses.

A new study undertaken by scientists from USA and United Kingdom reveals that breast milk can also help the baby develop stronger lungs all the way to adulthood. Respiratory problems are also lessened in children who are fed with breast milk.

In order to get a conclusion like this, the researchers studied a total of 1,456 babies who are fed with breast milk and evaluated these children for ten years. Majority of the babies were breastfed until their 4th month and these children are evaluated to be able to blow out air after taking deep breaths and in turn, can blow it out faster. This is one evidence pointing to stronger lungs.

Recent studies have already found out that breastfeeding will lessen the chances of asthma occurring in your baby. This is regardless of the fact if the mother has respiratory problems or a history of asthma in their family.

In conclusion, the researchers conducting this study said that those babies who were breastfed for 4 months have stronger lung capacity than those babies who weren’t breastfed at all.

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February 8, 2009   No Comments

Rundown on the Many Benefits of Breastfeeding

by Rachel

I’m sure you’ve already heard that breastfeeding is best for newborn babies. But are you familiar with the many benefits that come with this act? Not only will it benefit your baby, but you will also reap benefits from breastfeeding.

For your baby, breast milk is the best source of nutrition. The ideal time of breastfeeding is from 0 to 6 months. Breast milk has a lot of nutrients that can help the baby grow healthy. Another benefit that your baby can get from breast milk is colostrum, which is a thick, yellowish substance that comes out of your breasts in the first few days of delivering a baby. The colostrum is a great source of immunities and antibodies which can protect your baby from harmful diseases.

As for the mother’s side, there are also many benefits that can result from choosing to breast feed your baby. Breastfeeding can help your uterus return to its normal size after giving birth and helps prevent bleeding that can occur after giving birth. Breastfeeding is also seen as a natural contraceptive which allows your body to heal and gives it nutritional and health benefits. Giving your baby breast milk can also lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Breastfeeding can also work wonders on the emotional side because this activity fosters the strengthening of the bond between mother and child. Generally, the baby feels secure during this activity. Breastfeeding is also supported by health organizations and local communities because it can really help you in rearing healthy children. On top of all the benefits, your family can save money because breastfeeding will cut down costs of buying milk and feeding bottles.

All in all, breastfeeding has a lot of good benefits in ensuring your child’s health. It really helps in ensuring that your children will be healthy individuals and ward off diseases.

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February 8, 2009   No Comments