Breastfeeding
Does It Really Make a Difference?
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Expecting a baby is an exciting experience – finding your doctor, the hospital where you will deliver, taking prenatal classes and making the decision about how to feed your baby – so much to do!
To breastfeed or not to breastfeed, that is the question. If you ask your baby, he or she would say 'of course, I want to breastfeed, your milk is made just for me!' Breastmilk is the 'gold standard' that formula companies try to imitate and is what scientist's study to determine nutrients that can be added to formula to make it 'better' (as compared to formula 10 years ago). Scientists estimate that mother's milk contains hundreds of thousands of components compared to formula, which contains only a few dozen ingredients that scientists feel are most important. For mothers who cannot breastfeed, infant formula does a good job of imitating breastmilk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend breastfeeding. All three state human milk is the optimal feeding for human babies. All substitute feeding preparations differ from human milk and cannot be replicated, thus human milk is uniquely superior and unparalleled in providing perfect food for the healthy growth and development of babies and has important implications for the health of mothers.
The benefits of breastfeeding a baby, a mother and society are too numerous to include in their entirety. Beyond the perfect nutrition of human milk other benefits include…
For Baby
Easily digested, protects the infant gut, higher IQ, less incidence of certain cancers, enhanced bonding for mother and child, decreases risk of diabetes, less allergies, less asthma, less obesity as adults, less ear infections, respiratory and diarrheal illnesses.For Mothers
Prevents hemorrhaging after delivery, no worry of which brand is best, decreases risk of breast cancer, ovarian and endometrial cancer, it's free, always available at the right temperature, no preparation or clean up, fewer doctor visits and less time missed from work due to child's illness, less money for dentistry work for the child.For Society
Breastmilk has never been recalled due to manufacturing problems, no issue of contaminated water in mixing formula, less impact on landfills, and less cost to the taxpayer for non-breastfeeding mothers participating in the supplemental food program.
Suggestions for successful breastfeeding:
Breastfeeding, though natural, is a learning experience for both mother and baby (walking is natural, learning to walk took time). It may take 2- 3 weeks before a mother feels that breastfeeding is easy.
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A prenatal breastfeeding class is one of the most important gifts expectant mothers and fathers can give each other. The class will give you the most current and research-based education.
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During your hospital stay, have a knowledgeable person review the basic education and evaluate positioning and latch.
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Finding breastfeeding support after baby comes is very important; all mothers will have questions during the first weeks of breastfeeding. Does your hospital have a weekly breastfeeding support group or the local La Leche League group or have a phone number to call for questions? Can you meet with a Lactation Consultant after you go home?
Most importantly, give yourself time; time for you and your baby to learn the art of breastfeeding, time to rest and time to enjoy your baby!
