Breastfeeding your baby is not only good for the baby, but it’s also good for you! Enjoy the special bond you will feel when your baby is suckling, the convenience (no formula to make, or bottles to sterilize, nothing to warm up in the middle of the night) and the lower cost. All you need is a healthy diet and sometimes a little help to get you and your baby off to satisfying start.
August is National Breastfeeding Month; a campaign funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aims at encouraging women to breastfeed their newborns for at least six months. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast milk as the preferred diet for all infants, including those born prematurely or who are sick.
Here are three great reasons to commit to breastfeeding your newborn:
1 – Breast Milk Protects Your Baby
Breast milk provides babies with perfect, natural nutrition that is not only easier for them to digest, but breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from diarrhea, asthma and respiratory infections, and are even less likely to develop asthma, allergies, diabetes or get cancer later in life. Breastfed babies tend to get fewer cavities and their teeth tend to come in straighter than children who are bottle fed. Breastfeeding is an easy, great way to protect your child’s health.
2 – Breastfeeding is Healthier for You
Nursing mothers regain their figures more quickly since the lactation process shrinks the uterus, while accelerating the expulsion of the placenta. Since breastfeeding requires approximately 500 calories a day, breastfeeding moms on a healthy diet, generally can lose their “baby fat” more quickly than moms who don’t nurse. When moms breastfeed, their insulin requirements are decreased, and their risk of developing ovarian and endometrial cancer is diminished. Because there are no bottles to warm, lactating moms generally get more sleep than moms who choose to formula feed their infants.
3 – Breastfeeding Saves Time and Money
Spend more time with your beautiful newborn and get the rest you need to pay attention to your own needs and those of the rest of your family. Do this by saving the time it takes to shop and prepare formula. Because there are no bottles to warm, you will get more sleep and recover from childbirth faster. You will also save money, too! No expensive formula to buy. Also, most women who breastfeed, do not begin to menstruate again for up to 14 months after giving birth, so you can stretch your budget by not spending on menstrual supplies.
For 101 more reasons to breastfeed visit this site and you will soon appreciate how beneficial breastfeeding can be for your new baby, your health and your family.
For tips on nutrition for lactating moms, visit the women’s health U.S. government recommendations at these two websites:
Breastfeeding Fact Sheet (PDF)
Choose My Plate