The Benefits of Breastfeeding Your Baby

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When I first became a mom nearly 16 years ago, I did not realize how adamant I would feel about breastfeeding my daughter until after she was born. I experienced mild preeclampsia during my pregnancy and had gone to the hospital to have the protein in my urine checked as I neared my due date. Not only was the protein high, I also had high blood pressure and it was decided by my doctor that I would have to be induced. I was SO not ready! My baby wasn’t supposed to be here for another three weeks! But I guess the universe had other plans in store for me.

The induction did not go very well and so I needed to have a c-section instead. My baby was born healthy, thankfully, but because of all the medication I was put on, she was very sleepy and wouldn’t latch on when I attempted to breastfeed her. The staff was trying to push for her to receive some formula so she wouldn’t go hungry. This, by the way, is not what a first time mother wants to hear: that you’re starving your child. I was determined not to allow the staff to get to me and I stuck to giving her breastmilk only, and thanks to the wonderful lactation consultants at the hospital, that is what I did. The hospital still sent me home with all kinds of formula goodie bags which I am by no means a fan of. I feel they send the message that breastfeeding may not work, or that your body will fail at producing milk. As a side note, I am not opposed to mothers who formula feed their babies. I know there are many cases wherein breastfeeding is just not possible. But for first time moms, some of who have little breastfeeding support to begin with, receiving all these messages about how our bodies may fail at feeding our babies is just not helpful, and can make it very easy to give up on breastfeeding.

Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby and Mom

So, why consider breastfeeding your baby? The most obvious reason for me is that it is biologically what a woman’s body was made to do. I mean, we are equipped with breasts and mammary glands for a reason 🙂 Breastfeeding also helps build your baby’s immune system and helps reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). Breastmilk changes in composition as your baby grows, making it the perfect food for your baby. Aside from all the health benefits, it also helps to save time and money. For mothers, breastfeeding their babies can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, breast cancer. cardiovascular disease, and type 2 Diabetes later in life. Breastfeeding can also burn an extra 500 calories per day, making losing pregnancy weight easier…for the win!

How long should I breastfeed for?

This really comes down to personal preference. However, I think it’s worth to take into consideration what the experts recommend. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), babies should receive breastmilk exclusively until 6 months of age, until the age of 1 or beyond, and solid foods should be introduced sometime after this. The CDC recommends that babies be exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age, and that they be fed solid foods along with breastmilk until the age of 2. As per kellymom, breastfeeding past the age of 1 continues to provide a great source of both physical nourishment and emotional comfort for your baby. All this being said, it’s important to consider all factors when making this decision, and remember, whatever amount of breastmilk you can provide is beneficial to your baby.

Breastfeeding Resources

Whatever you do, don’t go at this alone, because it truly takes a village. Enlist the support of family, friends, and the community. What was really helpful for me was being surrounded by like-minded moms, even if it was through an online community. La Leche League has been around for a long time and through their website you can find both online and in person support groups – although you may find there is limited availability for in person meetings at this time because of the pandemic. It is important to note that all their meetings are free of charge. There are also many online resources, such as kellymom, motherlove, and askdrsears. Books are also an invaluable resource, so here is a list of some books that can help you on your breastfeeding journey.

If you are having challenges beyond your control, I would encourage you to seek help from a lactation consultant in your area. More often than not they can successfully help you work through most of of the breastfeeding struggles you may be encountering. Here is a list of the most common issues you may have:

Baby is losing weight
too much milk supply
too little milk supply
baby is not latching properly
difficult or painful latching
nursing preemies or twins/multiples
mom is going back to work/help with pumping
breastfeeding information

Many moms who for various reasons are unable to breastfeed their babies have been able to obtain breastmilk through a milk bank. To ensure the safety of your baby, all donors are screened prior to donating milk and the milk will be pasteurized. Here is a website that can help you locate a milk bank near you – https://www.hmbana.org/find-a-milk-bank/overview.html.