Okay, so you’re considering breastfeeding that little miracle that’s growing inside your belly, but maybe you’re not completely convinced that it’s the best option for you or your baby. I know, from personal experience, that you’ve got to be a VERY strong woman and determined to not give up. It’s a grueling process in the beginning, but completely rewarding once your baby has mastered the art of latching on.
Breastfeeding was really the only option for me…have you taken a stroll down the formula isle at your local grocery store? Formula is outrageously priced. Not to mention diapers, wipes, butt salve, clothes, pacies, and all those other little necessities. It wasn’t hard to figure out this was one way to save tons of money but also aid in keeping my baby healthier. Even on the formula can it states an important notice that BREAST MILK IS BEST FOR BABIES. Why? Oh, I thought you’d never ask!! Well, human milk’s major ingredients include sugar (lactose), protein (which is easily digested-otherwise known as whey and casein), and fat (digestible fatty acids). God balanced all of these together to suit and protect our babies from conditions such as ear infections, vomiting, allergies, diarrhea, pneumonia, wheezing, meningitis, and bronchiolitis. As if that wasn’t enough, our milk also contains several minerals, vitamins, enzymes, antibodies, and many other valuable ingredients. Formula can’t even come close to being able to do this for your baby.
I’m sure you’ve gained weight throughout your pregnancy and, like any other woman, you’ll want to be back into your pre-pregnancy clothes soon! Breastfeeding will help you achieve this goal. You will burn 500 calories a day just by breastfeeding, but it also helps tighten the uterus back to its normal size. After birth, breastfeeding has the same effect as pitocin. You will feel your uterus contracting, much like labor pains. FUN! No pain, no gain…right ladies?!?
Are you still not convinced? Imagine having to wake up in the middle of the night SEVERAL times to measure out formula and warm a bottle every 2 to 4 hours. Just as soon as you get your baby fed, burped, changed and back to sleep it’s your turn to lie back down and try to fall back asleep for another quick 30 minute snooze before you have to get back up and do it all over again! Not to mention cleaning and sterilizing the bottles and nipples on a daily basis. It’s a lot more preparation time to actually get out of the house when you have to run an errand too. Prepared formula is only good for 2 hours without refrigeration. When you breastfeed, dinner is attached to your chest, already warmed and prepared for your baby. No wait time or sterilizing. Your baby will love you for it!
Let’s talk S.I.D.S for a moment. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome has puzzled doctors for years. Seemingly healthy babies unexpectedly die for unknown reasons. Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conference in Atlanta were presented a study showing that breastfeeding a child could dramatically reduce the risk of S.I.D.S. when coupled with not smoking around your child. Out of the 118 children that were studied, 55% of the children deaths could have been prevented had the mothers breastfed. That’s a HUGE number especially when you’re thinking about YOUR baby!!!
So, when you take all of these things into consideration, what do you have to lose except a little weight? You’re going to save buckets of money, have a healthier baby, have a leaner more firm body, have a little more shut eye, more bonding time with your baby, and possibly reduce the risk of S.I.D.S. Whoah, what’s not to love about that? Like I said, it takes a strong woman to nurse a baby…but I know you can do it with the help and support from other breastfeeding mom’s like me!
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Breastfeeding also reduces the risks of breast and ovarian cancer in the mother. Truly amazing.