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hot topics

Q: Breastfeeding benefits?

Posted Wednesday, March 21, 2007 3:00 PM

Q: Am I a bad mommy if I don’t breastfeed? How will it affect my baby?

A: Of course you’re not a bad mommy… but do give nursing a chance. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends breastfeeding for the first year, and exclusively for the first six months. A mother's milk contains the ideal nutrients, enzymes and antibodies for baby. Breastfed babies are less likely to have diarrhea, ear infections, respiratory illness, allergies, stomach bugs and colds. Plus, nursing decreases future risk of obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, childhood leukemia and other forms of cancer. And, it's a great way to bond with baby. Need more? Studies link breastfeeding to higher IQs.

There are perks for you, too. Six months of formula will set you back about $500… breastmilk, not a penny. It’s always available, requires no preparation, and comes out at the perfect temperature. Worried about losing the pregnancy pounds? Yep, breastfeeding will help. It’s also been linked to decreased breast and uterine cancer and osteoporosis rates, helps you heal more quickly down below, and works (not perfectly!) as birth control. At the hospital, a lactation consultant can help you get comfortable with the nursing process. Your local La Leche League also offers support.

That said, if breastfeeding just won't work for you, skip the guilt trip. As long as you take good care of baby, the best fuel you can feed her is love.

QA Index

Posted by Paula K
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Comments

re: Q: Breastfeeding Benefits?

I am very grateful to be able to breastfeed my son- but it hasn't been easy. He had several anatomical features which made it difficult for him to latch properly, and I did too. Then he developed a sucking abnormality and he began chomping out milk instead of sucking- very inefficient for him and painful for me. Everyone around us said "bottle feed" and acted like I was a bad mom for continuing to breastfeed. The rediculous part is that a baby who can't suck can't take a bottle (chomping milk from a  breast is more effective than chomping from a bottle), nor did he want to! It was in fact his incredible desire to nurse and the insticts to do so which ultimately helped him overcome his inability to suck. Now he nurses great and is growing faster than any weed I've ever seen. If breastfeeding doesn't work out well in the beginning YOU CAN STILL DO IT and there is lots of great help out there besides your hospital's lactation consultant (often not enough help). We found a lactation clinic which made all the difference in the world to us.

Posted by mary_jane    Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:04 AM


re: Q: Breastfeeding benefits?

As long as you are caring for your child the best you can, no, it won't make you a bad mommy. I, personally, would say definitely breast-feed though... it's so much healthier for your child and gives them more than any manufactured formula ever could. I'm a firm believer that nature, God, your Creator, whatever you want to call it knew what they were doing when they made us like all other mammals to take care of our young. I wouldn't trade it (even the hard parts) for anything as the bonding time with DS is amazing! I encourage you to at least try to breast-feed for one month before nixing it though... that's how long it usually takes to get the hang of it.

Posted by cherokee6    Saturday, August 09, 2008 12:56 PM


re: Q: Breastfeeding benefits?

Just to point out...by the time I was done buying a good breast pump-used on ebay-, nursing bras, breast pads, lanolin, nursing tank, a boppy  I added it up (and this is without any nursing shirts for nursing in public more easily/discreetly)  we spent $300 and time running from store to store just looking for nursing bras!  On the other hand, I have almost 6 months worth of formula--that has been either free or purchased for less than $1.00 a can!  And, you can buy Kmart or Target or Walmart brand formula for less than half the cost of Enfamil/Similac!  So the arguement that it is cheaper--not always so.  

Posted by mommy42115    Wednesday, August 20, 2008 11:06 AM


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