Womb to Bloom - Maternity & Beyond

After giving him or her life, the next most important thing you can give your baby is love of course, but the third most important thing you may give your child is breastmilk. Unfortunately, not every woman can breastfeed their baby, many of us have to return to work or school soon after we recover, that is understandable and no one (except possibly your mother-in-law) will blame you. Some women successfully continue breastfeeding after they've returned to their job, but it can be a bit tricky to pump the right amount at the right times to simulate a natural nursing cycle and keep your body producing milk.

If you have settled on the decision to nurse your baby; firstly, I commend you for doing so and secondly, I want to warn you that the first 4 to 6 weeks can be somewhat difficult. You may feel some discomfort, such as pulling or tugging, your breasts may also be tender and get very full until your body grows accustomed to your baby's feeding schedule. After this short period of transition though, nursing becomes far easier and it really becomes wonderful bonding experience when you've become more comfortable. Since it can be a trying time at first, I'd like to share with you some of the many benefits of breastfeeding, for your baby and for you as well. I hope that they will help you not to give up during that first month, it really does get better!

Tummy – Breastfed babies may be less prone to vomiting or diarrhea, because breastmilk promotes growth of healthful bacteria in your baby's intestines. These good bacteria can manufacture vitamins and nutrients, as well as keep harmful bacteria in check.

Mouth – The complex movement of the tongue and facial muscles while nursing can improve the shape of your baby's palate, making it less likely that he or she will experience air flow blockage during sleep. It's also been suggested that breastfed children are up to 40% less likely to require orthodontic treatment. This can mean less snoring and a lower chance that your child will need braces!

Heart – Some researchers now believe that people who are breastfed as babies are less likely to have heart disease and suffer from heart attack or stroke later in life. This is because a breastfed baby's liver may learn to metabolize cholesterol better, due to the amount of cholesterol contained in breastmilk.

Immunity – When your baby is exposed to a new germ, your body will actually make the antibodies and transfer them to your baby through your breastmilk, which contains about 1 million live white blood cells per drop! Even if you are sick, in most cases, you can continue nursing your baby and your body will pass on the antibodies as you make them. The live white blood cells also coat your baby's intestines to guard against germs and prevent an allergic reaction to foods as well.

Brain – The DHA, cholesterol and galactose in breastmilk help develop and maintain healthy brain tissue as well as healthy nerve tissue in the brain. Some scientists also claim that close contact and varying milk flow provide more stimulating interaction during feedings, which helps the baby to make more neural connections. Studies indicate that breastfed children score an average of 7 to 10 points higher on IQ tests than those who were formula-fed.

Vision – In addition to the positive effects DHA has on the baby's brain, it is also one of the prime structural components of the retina. Breastfed babies tend to show more advanced visual acuity, suggesting that they may develop healthier eyes and better sight.

Eating Habits – Breastfeeding allows your baby to have control over how much they eat, they will learn to trust their own body signals about how much they need to eat and when. This may make them less likely to become obese as an adolescent, possibly even as an adult.

SIDS – There are numerous possible causes of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, but there are also many ways breastfeeding might lower your baby's risk of SIDS. In addition to the decreased risk of air-flow blockage during sleep, breastfed babies can tend to sleep less deeply, making them more likely to wake up if there is a problem with their breathing.

As for mommy, there are some interesting benefits as well. Depending on how long a woman breastfeeds, for instance, she can decrease her risk of breast cancer by up to 25%. Risk of uterine and ovarian cancer can also be decreased, since estrogen levels are lower during lactation and the lining of the uterus is less stimulated by the hormone.

Nursing moms tend to have an earlier return to their pre-pregnancy weight. By 1 month post-partum, moms who breastfeed show significantly larger decreases in hip circumference as well as more fat loss. Last but certainly not least, when a mother is exclusively breastfeeding, ovulation is delayed and she remains infertile until her baby begins nursing less frequently, usually when they start to eat solid foods. My son is now 8 months old, for instance, and I haven't had a period yet! I definitely wouldn't consider nursing a fail-safe method of birth control however, since you can really begin ovulating any time and not be aware that you are fertile for weeks before you have a period.

I hope you've found atleast a couple of great reasons to push through that first month of nursing, if you find it uncomfortable and get discouraged. It is a truly rewarding experience to share with your baby! Good luck, Mama.