By now you likely know all the wonderful things
breastfeeding
does for your baby, but did you know that nature’s most perfect feeding system is as beneficial for you as it is for your little one? Here are some of the many ways nursing your baby can improve your life, emotionally and physically.
Calming effect
The release of breastmilk has a soothing effect on your body, stimulating the production of ß-endorphins, chemicals that bring on feelings of peace and relaxation and suppress anxiety and irritability. Nursing also requires you to sit or lie quietly with your infant many times throughout the day, encouraging you to rest and refuel.
Bonding
Those same natural chemicals - and the time spent holding your child -promote feelings of affection, well-being, and intimacy that help you bond with your baby. That connection is important not just in the early weeks, when you are getting to know each other, but also later on when you may be returning to work and spending more time away from your family.
Shaping up
Breastfeeding releases a hormone that stimulates your uterus to contract, helping control blood loss and return to its pre-pregnancy shape. Nursing also helps return you to your pre-pregnancy shape - and keep you there - by burning 200 to 500 calories a day, the equivalent of swimming 30 laps or biking for an hour. This natural weight-loss program is unusually effective, providing not just relatively rapid but also lasting
results.
Stronger bones
Women who breastfeed are 75 percent less likely to develop osteoporosis than women who feed their babies formula. While most mothers lose a small amount of bone mass during nursing, within months of weaning, their bodies have replaced it with new, denser, stronger bone.
Reduced cancer risk
Women who have nursed their babies are less likely to develop breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer than women who have never breastfed. Some of this protection has been shown to grow over time, increasing with the number of months or years a woman breastfeeds.
Convenience
Nursing simplifies your life by eliminating the need to plan and prepare food for your infant. Whether you are at home, out and about, or just trying to get a good night’s sleep, breastmilk is ready at a moment’s notice, in the perfect quantity, at just the right temperature, and in the ideal formulation for your child.
A healthier family
Because your breastmilk contains powerful antibodies, your baby will have an easier time fighting off illnesses, which means you will spend less time caring for a sick child. This reduces stress for the whole family, whether you are at home with your child or returning to work.
More money for you
Nursing saves you plenty over the cost of bottles and formula - as much as $1,400 a year, according to our calculations. That’s money you can spend on other things, like taking care of yourself so that you can better take care of everyone else!
Charlotte Meryman is editor of Parenting from the Heart. Breastfeeding Mom
gives tips on how to breastfeed and shares her stories of success and troubles. Includes information collected from other Moms and from books. Easy to read, not technical.
Are you are concerned you aren't producing enough milk for your baby? Le Leche League, Midwifes, Doulas, and Lactation consultants recommend using a natural enhancer to bring about a larger
milk supply.
Tips for Nursing
Quick tips for nursing on the go
Nurse at the first signs of hunger. You'll both be calmer and attract less attention -- if you begin the feeding before your little one is fussy and frantic. Buy some extra time with a happy baby by nursing in the car before you set out.
Wear your baby in a sling or front carrier for the most discreet nursing. It will also reassure him and leave your hands free for other activities. If you're a modest mom or your infant is easily distracted, drape a small blanket or shawl over your shoulder as you nurse.
In restaurants, choose a seat away from the traffic flow, with your back to the crowd. When shopping, look for lounges, fitting rooms or benches. On planes, trains, and buses, select a seat by the window. A calm, semi-private spot will help both you and your baby relax.
Create your own private space in public settings by turning your body away from others and focusing on your baby, talking with a friend, or reading a book.
When you're ready to engage with those around you, look up, meet their eyes, and smile. Your confidence will put them at ease.
Wear clothing that makes nursing easy and comfortable. Try it out ahead of time in the comfort of home or the company of good friends.
Take frequent breaks. Regular nursing and snuggle times will reassure your child in the midst of a stimulating and changing environment, and allow you to refuel as well.
Enjoy your mobility! As a nursing mother, you're packed for transit, with your baby's food warm and ready anywhere, anytime. Getting out and about will refresh you both.
Breastfeeding is not just a healthy choice, it’s also an economical choice. And the longer you breastfeed, the more the savings add up. As babies mature, they eat more. If you’re bottle-feeding, that means your expenses grow along with your baby. Nursing, by contrast, costs no more at six months than it does at six days.
In a 1998 study, Dr. Marta Sovyanhadi of the Long Beach, California, Department of Health and Human Services estimated it costs a mother only $90.36 in extra calorie intake to breastfeed an infant for the first six months.
You also are saving in healthcare costs for your baby. Studies show breastfed babies get sick less often, need fewer doctor visits, and are hospitalized less often than formula-fed babies. For working mothers, that means an added savings of less time lost on the job.
The chart below shows what not having to buy bottles and formula saves you, based on how long you nurse. *By breastfeeding you are saving well over $1,000 the first year. That’s money you can spend on other things, like education, savings, or a special treat to make nursing even easier!
* Figures include the average cost of brands of premixed and powdered formula available in grocery stores here in Northampton, Massachusetts, as well as the purchase of four bottles and nipples every two months.
Cost of Formula and Bottles Month Cumulative Nursing Savings
