Is Breast Feeding And Pumping Best For a Baby?
My name is Emily and I am a new mom. My daughter Lily turned one year old last week and I am having the time of my life raising her. I am still breast feeding and pumping which makes her one healthy little girl. I have so many great memories of her and most of them are from when she is nursing. The way she looks up at me is heart warming and when she laughs is so very cute. Breastfeeding has helped me bond with my baby Lily. When she is nursing I can really tell how much she loves and needs me. Breastfeeding creates a strong bond between mother and child. Oxytocin (the love hormone) gets released by the mother’s neurons which can create intense feelings of love and compassion while breastfeeding.
When I was pregnant I decided to breast feed her as soon as she was born. I did a lot of research and learned about how beneficial breastfeeding and pumping is for a baby. If mothers breast feed for at least one year there babies would grow up strong and healthy.
I truly believe that Lily is so health because I breast feed her. She had her first high fever when she was 11 months old. She came down with her 103 temperature one morning and she was already feeling better that night. She recovered so quickly with absolutely no medications. Breast milk gives babies nutrients, antibodies and so much more. This is why I believe that breast milk is the best milk you can ever give your baby.
Breast milk is the best form of nutrition for an infant. It has the right amount of fats, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, and much more. Baby Formula companies are trying to recreate breast milk for years now. However formulas cannot compare to the benefits to a breast milk. Formulas are artificial and do not have the proper balance of what an infant needs.
Formulas have also been shown to give babies food allergies, diarrhea, and colic symptoms. This is because an infants digestive system has not been fully devolved. If a baby is fed something that is unnatural and artificial it will their bodies will have a harder time processing it. Breast milk is the easiest milk for a baby to digest.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says that mothers should exclusively breast feed for at least until the baby is six months old. After that than she can start introducing solid foods. However babies should continue breast feeding until they are one year of age or even older.Mothers can even choose to exclusively nurse up to one year. Of age.
Did You Know That Breast feeding And Pumping Can Help Boost a Baby’s Immune System?
When babies are born there immune system are undeveloped which is why that are at a high risk of getting ill. A Breast fed baby is passed some of the mother’s immunities through her milk. When a baby is given formula they are not able to get any of the immune boosting powers of breast milk. This can prevent a long list of problems including:
developing food allergies, type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, respiratory illness infections, hypertension, stroke, heart attacks, sleep apnea, asthma, poor self esteem, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, suicides, etc……
Breast milk has a lower risk of becoming contaminated too. If you are buying formula from a grocery store you would be transferring it from the plastic containers into the babies bottles. This elevates the risk of bacteria getting into a babies digestive system and causing infections. Babies who are breast fed develop less infections than babies who have been fed formula because of the anti bodies in breast milk. Babies cannot get any anti bodies in any formulas sold today. Breast feeding and pumping is the only way for your baby to get the antibodies they need. Breast Feeding and Pumping Also Helps With Prevent Childhood Obesity
Studies show that breast fed babies are leaner and gain less excess weight. Formula fed babies have been shown to be heavier and don’t develop as much muscle as breast fed babies do. Breast fed infants do not over eat like formula fed babies can.
Breast feeding has a different effect on your baby’s hormone levels and metabolism than formula feeding does. One of these hormones is insulin which tells the body how to store fat. In the long run physical consequences can range from premature death, to serious chronic conditions that reduce the overall quality of life. Breast Feeding Can also Be Beneficial To the Mother
When a mother breast feeds her baby for the very first time after birth her uterus contracts down and she will bleed less. This is a natural way for a mother to heal from labor. Breast feeding also lowers the mother’s risk of pre menopausal breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. Nursing also helps the mothers get back into shape. Pregnant women put on extra weight because they lay down extra fat cells which are later utilized when she breast feeds. Formula is very expensive so the mother could end up saving thousands of dollars every year.
You Can Breast Feed Even If You Cant Be With Your Baby
New moms may have careers they need to go back to. Or if she should ever need time to herself a breast pump can make it possible for a any mom to continue breast feeding. There are manual pumps but after a long day of work you will probably be tired and wont want to manually pump. The Medela Freestyle Breast Pump is a hands free pump. You can relax while this pump does the work for you. Breast milk can last a long time when stored in the freezer. So that if you should ever have to leave you will have reserved milk to rely on.
If you do decide to breast feed I believe that you will be giving your baby a head start to becoming a healthy person. Breastfeeding and pumping are very beneficial for you and your baby. Not only will you bond with your child you will be helping them to lead a healthier happier life.
I have created a site to help parents find fun ways to prevent and beat childhood obesity. This is a deadly epidemic that we all need to fight! ChildhoodObesityInAmerica.com
