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The Breastfeeding Sista Circle© fully supports the belief that breast milk is all your baby needs to sustain him/herself nutrionally for at least the first six months of life and beyond. The benefits of breastfeeding are many. Below are just a few of the many benefits to baby, mom, and dad. This list only touches the surface of the many benefits of nursing your baby.
When babies receive Mama's Milk, they:
- are protected again many infections. Breastmilk, especially colostrum (first milk), contains immunities to help baby fight off infections and diseases. "Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease. About 80% of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Breastfed babies are protected in varying degrees from a number of illnesses including, pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to what ever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight diseases their babies are exposed to as well."
Williams RD, "Breast-Feeding Best Bet for Babies", U.S. Food and Drug Administration Statement: http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html [taken from http://www.promom.org/101/index.html]
- are not constipated and have fewer upset stomachs. Since it is created especially for baby, breastmilk's composition is easily digestable for babies. "Babies can digest human milk more easily than the milk of other animals, probably because human milk contains an enzyme that aids in this process. Breast milk forms softer curds in the infant's stomach than cow's milk (the basis for most formulas) and is more quickly assimilated into the body system. While it contains less protein than does cow's milk, virtually all the protein in breast milk is available to the baby. By contrast, about half the protein in cow's milk passes through the baby's body as a waste product. Similarly, iron and zinc are absorbed better by breastfed babies."
The Complete Book Of Breastfeeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 [taken from http://www.promom.org/101/index.html]
- are in close, physical contact with mom. Breastfeeding your baby means you'll have to keep the baby near you for at least 20 minutes, every couple hours. Babies and mom benefit and bond from this time spent together. The closeness of your skin comforts baby and some studies have shown that breastfed babies are more calm overall.
The benefits to mom are:
- breastfeeding will help you lose weight, faster! "Studies have shown that breastfeeding mothers tend to lose more weight when their babies are three to six months old than formula-feeding mothers who consume fewer calories." "According to Dr. Judith Roepke, a nutrionist at Ball State University in Indiana... lactation may be an ideal time to lose weight. Lactation seems to mobilize even fat accumulated before prgnancy" The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding, Sixth Edition, Copyright 1997 by , La Leche League International.
- Breastfeeding continues the natural course of conception, pregnancy and childbirth. "Breastfeeding was meant to follow pregnancy and childbirth. The milk-producing breast represents a healthy progression in the natural sequence of reproduction that includes pregnancy, birth, and lactation. Nursing mothers find that breastfeeding is a naturally pleasurable experience." The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding, Sixth Edition, Copyright 1997 by , La Leche League International.
- Reduces the risk of breast cancer. "in 8 women in the United States will develop breast cancer; 1 in 9 in Britain. The new study suggests that, for every year a woman breastfeeds, her risk of breast cancer falls by more than 4%. This is on top of the 7% reduction for each child she bears, and regardless of other risk factors such as genes, smoking or age of having her first child. Some 5% of breast cancers in the Western world - that's 25,000 per year - could be prevented if women who had two or three children breastfed each one for 6 months longer, the researchers calculate." Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer and breastfeeding: collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 47 epidemiological studies in 30 countries, including 50,302 women with breast cancer and 96,973 women without the disease. Lancet <http://www.thelancet.com/>, 360, 187 - 196, (2002). [taken from: http://www.nature.com/nsu/020715/020715-13.html]
- Breastfeeding exclusively can delay the return of fertility for the first six months of baby's life. "In general, ovulation is inhibited while the baby is exclusively breastfed, is less than 6 months old, wakes regularly at night to feed, and uses no paicfiers. If avoiding pregnancy is critical, breastfeeding should not be relied upon as a method of contraception"
What's in it for Dad?
- The baby's mom is usually more relaxed when she's breastfeeding.
- The baby is 'nicer', with no smelly diapers!
- Laundry is easy as human milk doesn't stain!
- Bigger breasts to gawk at! ( I threw that one in for fun, all!)
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