1. Aids in uterus returning to original size after birth.
Nipple stimulation from nursing causes the uterus to contract and return to
its original shape quickly.
2. Nursing burns calories.
With a sensible diet, most nursing mothers can eat many small meals a day,
and lose weight without dieting.
3. Amenhorrea.
Amenorrhea is the cessation of menstruation, and the average length is 18
months. Aside from the pleasure of being period-free for over two years,
mothers also enjoy a reduced risk of anemia.
4. Fewer illness, ear infections, allergies, asthma
"Your baby will not be allergic to your milk, you can be certain of that,"
states The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, by La Leche League International.
However, nursing reduces your child's risk of having eczema, food
allergies, respiratory allergies and asthma, and can lessen the severity
of those she has. Breastfeeding also has a protective effect against
juvenile diabetes, celiac disease, childhood cancer, rheumatoid arthritis,
urinary tract infections, multiple sclerosis, liver disease, and acute
appendicitis. According to Cecilia Miller, breastfeeding advocate, "When
the breastfed baby does get the occasional sniffles or stomach flu,
breastmilk provides a perfect, nutritious, well-tolerated re-hydrating
fluid so there's no need to use synthetic substances like Pedialyte or
glucose water."
5. Poops and spit-up don't stain or stink as much.
Well, it's true! J As fast as they grow, those baby clothes don't get much
wear. It's a shame when perfectly good outfits get stained from formula
spit-up. And of course, the poop of a breast-fed baby really is much less
offensive.
6. Mother-infant bonding enhanced.
According to Dr. William Sears (quoted in The Womanly Art of
Breastfeeding), "Breastfeeding mothers respond to their babies more
intuitively and with less restraint. The baby's signals of hunger or
distress trigger a biological response within the mother (a milk let-down)
and she feels the urge to pick up the baby and nurse her. This response
rewards both mother and baby with good feelings. If a mother is
bottle-feeding, her response to her baby crying is quite different. She
must initially divert her attention away from the baby to an object, the
bottle, and take time to find and prepare it. Research has show that a
baby's memory span in the first six months is from four to ten seconds.
The time it takes to produce a non-biological response, such as
bottle-feeding, is usually longer than the baby's memory span. The
bottle-feeding baby does not receive the same immediate reinforcement of
his cues that a breastfeeding baby does. In my practice, I have noticed
that breastfeeding mothers tend to show a high degree of sensitivity to
their babies, and I believe this is a result of the biological changes that
occur in a mother in response to the signals of her baby.."
7. Rest and rejuvenation.
According to Miller, "Nursing is the perfect excuse for getting the rest
you need to recover from childbirth and to maintain your energy level so
you can keep up with your growing baby and any older children you have.
While it's possible to breastfeed "on the run" if you use a sling, you will
most often sit down and "take a load off" while nursing. This allows you
some much-needed rest and gives you an opportunity to rejuvenate a little,
have a cool drink, enjoy some quiet time with baby and older children,
maybe even doze off for a few
minutes.
8. Great way for working moms to maintain their attachment to baby and to
"reconnect" after work.
9. Reduces exposure to sugar in formula.
The only sugar babies need or should have is lactose - the simple sugar
found in human breastmilk. Sucrose is harmful to teeth and the rest of
the body.
10. Reduces exposure to harmful chemicals in plastic nipples and bottles.
11. Reduces exposure to potential allergens in formula.
Cow's milk and soy are two of the most common allergens, and cow's milk and
soy are the two most common types of formula. Human babies are never
allergic to human milk.
12. Inexpensive.
With the money saved from formula and bottle costs (not to mention
healthcare costs that would be otherwise avoided), you could hire a weekly
housecleaning, eat out more often, see movies, have a savings account, you
name it. Nursing is free.
13. Reduced risk of SIDS.
Studies indicate that formula-fed infants are more likely to be victims of
SIDS.
14. Reduces a mother's risk of breast, ovarian, cervical and uterine
cancer.
Breast cancer is a
leading killer of women in the United States and around the world. We know
that breastfeeding drastically reduces the risk of developing breast
cancer. For this reason alone, it is worth committing to breastfeed.
15. Good for toddler tantrums.
Depending on the child, tantrums and other very intense emotional
expressions can begin as early as infancy. Most toddlers have them, and
nursing will very often soothe and calm. Many times it ends the tantrum
immediately. It is a wonderful way to re-connect when your child is
over-extended, tired, hungry, frustrated or feeling lonely.
16. Good for soothing during emergency.
Many times, crises can be handled more smoothly and with less trauma if a
child can nurse. My own son, at two years old, had to have stitches in his
head from a bad fall. Without an understanding doctor and our nursing
relationship continuing into toddlerhood, my sweet, frightened son would
have been strapped to a wooden board and given treatment. I can't imagine
the terror and grief we all would have suffered, and am very grateful that
I was able to hold and nurse him throughout this process.
17. Easier when travelling.
Who wants to pack bottles? Find a place to wash them, keep them cool, and
warm them? Breastmilk is always available, always warm, always sterile,
and always packed.
18. For the normally flat-chested, a temporary boost!
Not the single best reason to breastfeed, but a nice, um perk.
( "Saggy" breasts in some mothers are caused by an increase in breast size
during pregnancy, not from breastfeeding )
19. For the normally full-bosomed, finally putting it all to good use!
Seriously, it is very empowering to fully sustain a life for over a year.
You carry your child within you for 9 months, and can completely nourish
him from you breasts for at least six months more. It is a miracle!
References
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League International, 1997.
Laura Marple's "Reasons to Breastfeed" Page
"Breastfeeding & the Working Mother" page
if you have any questions or comments!