Did you know?
- That your milk changes from morning to afternoon to evening depending on the needs of the baby?
- That the milk has so many antibodies that scientists have done testing about its impact on cancer and it has been promising?
- That the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends you should breastfeed for at least a year and that it repeatedly during this entire time continues to strengthen your child's body and brain?
- Your child is less likely to have heart disease, obesity issues and diabetes if they are breast feed?
- It reduces the mom's chances of breast and ovarian cancer?
- It also burns an additional 500 calories a day!?
Now that the basics are taken care of, I wonder about what kind of breast feeding mom I will be. I see myself as the "publicly feeding my child with a discrete covering on" type. To me that is the middle way. I am not the "whip it out and expose" type nor the "hide under a bushel" type either. The negotiating time to pump at work thing is some what difficult to wrap my head around. I read yesterday they recommend you do it 8 times a day for 15 minutes. Now, that seems a little excessive and though, I am sure my rock hard pecks will signal the time, I can't imagine where I will find the time to do pump that much. I was hoping for once a day. (Another fun fact: not all women leak! Fingers crossed.)
Hey there! So exciting to hear you're getting so close to meeting your little one!
ReplyDeleteNow, I couldn't help but smile when reading this -- you're right! It's amazing how many benefits there are to breastfeeding and more are being discovered every day!
*Did you know when you breastfeed, the pituitary gland secretes the hormone oxytocin which causes the smooth muscle cells in the uterus to contract, enabling the uterus to shrink to its pre-pregnancy size. Oxytocin has one other important effect: inducing loving feelings in moms toward their babies. That's why it's sometimes called the love hormone.
*Breastfeeding can reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression.
*Breastfeeding may lower your baby's risk of SIDS -- what a true lifesaver!
I'm not one to judge what another mother decides to do with her baby -- I only knew what I wanted to do, and that was give my baby the best that I possibly could. I am very proud that I was able to BF and pump for both my children for as long as I did. I also decided to 'publicly feed with a discrete cover up' and I never once got any stares or unwanted words. I was never without my Boppy (nursing pillow -- which BTW is a lifesaver!) and it was SO convenient not having to mix and measure.
So, with that, good luck with whatever works for you -- I'm certain you are going to be an amazing mommy!
Best,
Margaret Brodsky
thanks for all the info. we just signed up and have a few months til our class! i have my fingers crossed too :)
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