Breastfeeding isn't going to be for everybody but giving it your best shot is definitely worth it for your baby if you understand the benefits. There may be times it might seem like an inconvenience to stop and breastfeed rather than pour a bottle of formula, but the breast milk is the better form of nutrition for your baby. It's important to remember the main benefits of breastfeeding are not aimed at the mother (even though there are perks for mom too!), but for the baby and his or her appropriate development. Remember that breastfeeding is natural. Women's bodies are designed to be able to feed their children. Of course, there may be some instances when a mother is not medically able to breastfeed because of medication they're taking or health problems they have. This is something you should discuss with your primary doctor as well as your child's pediatrician.
Breast Milk Is Best
Breastfeeding is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. The fat, sugar, water and protein content is perfectly formulated (by nature) for a growing baby and it's also much easier to digest than formula. You'll find the incidences of reflux are lower among breastfed babies because of this. Crohn's Disease and Colitis incidences are much lower among babies that were breastfed as are incidences of diabetes (Where a family history is present) and certain forms of cancer such as leukemia and Hodgkin's Disease. Breastfed infants also have a lower risk of developing cavities later in life.
For premature infants breastfeeding can shorten their hospital stay dramatically and speeds the development of the brainstem. The benefits on a breastfed infant's immune system protects them from life threatening diseases and when we're talking about a baby born early at only 4 or 5 pounds, the majority of infections out there today can be life threatening to them.
Breastfeeding Can Benefit Mom Too
The best benefits of breastfeeding affect the baby however the mother that is breastfeeding her baby also has some added bonuses as well. Ovarian and breast cancer risks are much lower among women who have breastfed and the risk decreases even further based on the duration of breastfeeding. Postpartum recovery is quicker due to the stimulation that occurs to the uterus, causing it to contract faster, and women who breastfeed are more likely to return to their pre-pregnancy weight quicker. It also forces the mother so sit down periodically and basically do nothing while she feeds her child. This much needed rest is important after having a baby and breastfeeding allows for this to occur every couple of hours.
Also, the costs for feeding your child are lower with breastfeeding. There's no formula to purchase. While mom will consume more calories to help breastmilk production it's much more affordable for the mother to eat rather than feeding baby with formula.
Nobody Said It Was Easy
The facts are there. Breastfeeding your child is the best route to go for nutrition. The problem is that it's not easy and you're more than likely to face challenges whether it's your first child or your fifth. The best way you can prepare is to educate yourself and be ready when the baby comes. An infant needs to eat and isn't going to wait for you to read up on what you should or should not be doing or to head to the store to pick up something that might make it easier on both of you. If you're ready with an arsenal of breastfeeding products and information, you're more likely to be one of the mothers that succeed with breastfeeding.
Many problems can arise and no matter how badly you want to breastfeed your child, it might not work out as easily as you had anticipated. Your milk might not come in as quickly as you'd like. Using a breast pump can help this along and increase the amount of milk produced. Many pumps are available and while it may be pricey, electric pumps will allow you to pump hands free, pump a greater volume, and you're much more likely to stick with it. Manual pumps are much cheaper but really aren't useful. Even if your baby has a poor latch, you can always pump and feed your child by bottle. The benefits of the breastmilk are still there with this route.
Poor latch is very common with infants. One contributor to this is whether or not you allow the hospital staff to give your child a bottle when they're first born. Your baby will develop a better latch if you immediately attempt to let your baby latch on to the breast as soon as he or she is born and is checked by the hospital staff. Only colostrum will be available at this point but that has a very high nutritional value and is important to a baby's development. Your actual milk should come in within a few days and medical professionals believe colostrum is definitely enough nutrition for a baby for the first couple of days. If you feel like your baby is not getting enough, or was born premature and is depending upon the correct amount of nutrition you might want to supplement formula as well as breastfeed. Be forewarned, this might cause nipple confusion and you may find yourself dealing with a poor latch. A Nipple shields are available at most baby specialty stores and they are incredibly helpful. Basically the shield is like the actual nipple in a baby bottle. It fits over the mother's breast and the baby can feed from the shield like a bottle. You can then ween your baby off the shield at some point when your supply is built up and you no longer need bottles. There are also medical reasons for a poor latch that you should be aware of if you're really having a terrible time with breastfeeding and can't seem to figure out what the problem is. You might want to contact a lactation consultant or your child's pediatrician if you suspect there might be a more serious problem.
Get Help If You Need It
Most hospitals will introduce you to a lactation consultant after you have your baby and they'll offer their services to you when you leave and head home. Don't be afraid to pick up the phone and call them with any problems or questions you may have. They deal with mothers just like you every day and will know how to help. If you have the privilege of having a home nurse come to the house a few times post partum to check on you and the baby they may be able to help you as well. Many of them are certified lactation consultants. La Leche League is a great organization to get help from and more than likely has a location in your area. You can visit them at www.lalecheleague.com for more information. Many support groups, websites and message boards are also available online and both new and experienced mothers will share their stories with you and you might be able to get some insight from them. The internet is extremely helpful for those 3 A.M. feedings when you have a question and there's nobody to call until morning. Also make sure your spouse is on board with you as well. Make sure they take an informative breastfeeding class with you before the baby is born, and have them do their reading as well. If they understand the problems you're going to face, and understand breastfeeding as a whole, you're going to get much better support from them and you're going to be more successful. Even if it means your spouse brings you the baby for those late night feedings and rocks the baby back to sleep for you afterwards, you'll be getting the rest you need and they'll get the bonding time they also deserve with the new addition to your family. If you're having trouble with breastfeeding don't be afraid to ask for help! There's many places you can turn and there's no need to try to figure it out alone.
Once you overcome the initial challenges of breastfeeding and develop a good feeding routine you'll find it gets much easier. The first few weeks of motherhood is challenging as it is so the added stress of breastfeeding can sometimes discourage mothers and they are easy to give up quickly. The best you can do is be educated and prepared. While it won't be easy, breastfeeding has been around for a very long time and is an achievable goal. Keep reminding yourself of the benefits of breastfeeding and keep trying!
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