Celebrating Breastfeeding

August is dedicated to the celebration of breastfeeding. What’s so special about breastfeeding that an entire month is dedicated to it? Let me give you the 411:

• First and foremost, breast milk is the most perfect nutrition for human babies. Composed of the perfect combination of protein, fat, vitamins, carbohydrates and minerals, breast milk continues to transform throughout a child’s entire development.
• Breast milk composition varies from month to month. As a child grows, nutritional requirements change to promote growth and development. Formula, by contrast, never changes. In order for a child to receive the nutrition required for their particular developmental stage, they must consume more formula. This promotes over-eating and sets a child up for a higher risk of obesity.
• Breast milk changes flavors at every feeding! The foods you eat flavor your milk and acclimates your child to thousands of flavors thus promoting the transition to solids when the time arises.
• Breast milk is alive and contains antibodies, lymphocytes (white blood cells), enzymes and probiotics (the good bacteria that fight off bad bacteria) to boost your child’s immunity and ward off infection. Feeling under the weather? By breastfeeding your baby when you’re ill, you are providing her with the tools to fight the invading bug. Not only that, but breast milk also provides your child with defenses against the common germs and allergens found in your environment.
• Breast milk coats the stomach (think of Pepto-Bismol) and promotes healthy digestion, protection from GI infections (i.e. necrotizing entercolitis- an infection in the intestines which may cause death to the bowel) and protects against diarrhea (which is very important in third world countries).
• Human milk is easy for babies to digest. Although many infants have some type of reflux, breastfed infants have less problems with reflux than their formula-fed counterparts.
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) risk has been shown to reduce when a child is breastfed. Again, since breast milk digests so quickly (between 60-90 minutes), infants wake up more frequently to eat.
• Breastfeeding makes babies smarter? That’s right! Breast milk ingredients such as DHA, cholesterol, and taurine promote brain development. Yes, DHA is found in formula also, but the source of this DHA has come under fire lately. DHA in formula is extracted from algae using a toxic chemical called hexane (a by-product of gasoline refining).
• Formula-fed infants have a higher risk of cancer, obesity, diabetes and are more susceptible to illness.

Breastfeeding also has benefit for you too, mama!

• Not only does breastfeeding protect your baby, studies show that breastfeeding also helps to reduce your risk for breast and ovarian cancer!
• Breastfeeding burns extra calories. What? Burn calories without going to the gym?!…I’m in!
• Our bodies are just amazing! Did you know that breastfeeding releases oxytocin (a hormone) which helps to protect against postpartum hemorrhage? Oxytocin stimulates the uterus to contract. This contraction helps to prevent hemorrhage and shrinks the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy state.
• It’s convenient and saves tons of money! No formula to buy or bottles to prepare. Breast milk is the original fast food…available anywhere and at anytime!

Can’t breastfeed? Did you know that there are breast milk banks throughout the US that are available and provide pasteurized and screened breast milk? If donated breast milk is too expensive for you or just not feasible, there is another option. Some mothers ask a friend or family member to donate their breast milk. If this is the route you choose, be sure that you know this person well (so you know if they have drug, tobacco or alcohol issues, health issues, nutritional history, etc.) and that the person is free of infectious disease (which can be transferred to the infant through contaminated breast milk). Remember to discuss your options with your doctor or midwife. They are a great resource and can help you navigate through all your available options.

Remember, breastfeeding can be challenging. Surround yourself with a great support system and reach out to a local lactation consultant for assistance. Before you know it, breastfeeding will be like second natural.

Author : Diba Tillery RN, BSN, IBCLC, CPST