To Breastfeed or Not to Breastfeed
New mothers are often unsure of whether or not breastfeeding is the right choice for them and their baby. We believe that breastfeeding is best and would like to explore the reasons behind this. We also want to give new moms tips on how to breastfeed, how to overcome the overwhelm, and other important suggestions for a successful breastfeeding journey.
Breast milk is the perfect nourishment for your growing baby, it’s a convenient way to feed your baby and it provides health benefits that will last your child a lifetime. Nursing your baby can save you not only time and money, but also create a special bond between the two of you.
Health Benefits
There are a number of known benefits to nursing your baby and providing them with the most amazing nutrition available. Breastfeeding has been found to lower a number of health risks for children. These include but are not limited to:
- Asthma and allergies
- Childhood leukemia
- Childhood obesity
- Ear infections
- Eczema
- Diarrhea and vomiting
- Respiratory infections
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Learning disabilities and delays
It has also been proven that breastfeeding your baby can provide health benefits for you as a nursing mother. These benefits include but are not limited to:
- Quicker and healthier recovery from labor and delivery
- Stimulating the uterus to contract and return to normal size quicker
- Less bleeding postpartum
- Fewer UTIs
- Less risk of postpartum depression
- Less risk of type 2 diabetes
- Less risk of certain types of breast cancer
- Lowered risk of ovarian cancer
Getting Started Right
Breastfeeding is a natural physical process for a mother’s body, but that does not mean it is automatically an easy process to establish. It often takes time to find what works for you and your baby and to become comfortable with this new routine. The best time to start nursing your baby is the baby’s very first feeding.
There are a number of helpful articles online to give you an overview of how to begin nursing your baby. You have access to a plethora of information when using search engines in regards to how to get baby to latch on, positioning baby, what to expect with your own body when your baby begins to nurse, how often to feed, establishing a routine and what you should eat while nursing.
All the Things to Help You Get Started Right
Breastfeeding is the most convenient way to feed your baby; but having a few things on hand can make it even more practical for you and those that help you care of your baby. A breast pump is a wonderful companion for the nursing mom who may choose to allow others to be involved in baby’s feeding times. There are also mothers who will need help due to working outside of the home or those who choose to simply take a rest from nursing once in a while.
Other items that can come in handy while nursing are comfortable nursing bras, nursing pads, nursing clothes for breastfeeding accessibility, a nursing cover or blankets that fit your needs and a comfortable nursing pillow to make feeding time easier for you and baby.
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle While Nursing
It is important to understand what you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle while you are breastfeeding your baby. How you take care of yourself and how you nourish your own body makes a world of difference in how your baby will begin their own healthy living. Eating right and getting appropriate exercise is necessary to be able to feed your baby and supply them with all of the nutrients they need from you. Sleeping while baby sleeps can keep you well rested as your nursing routine and schedule may take time to establish.
Overcoming the Challenges
Becoming overwhelmed at times with the breastfeeding experience is normal for new moms. Challenges can be mastered with a little bit of help from more experienced mothers and experts in the field; as well as being patient with yourself and your new baby. Reaching out to your local hospital or birthing center can connect you with certified breastfeeding instructors. Those experts can provide you with all of the information you need to know about breastfeeding. They can discuss issues that many mothers run into; issues like determining if your baby is getting enough to eat, building up and maintaining an adequate milk supply, and how to overcome unique challenges while breastfeeding.
Some of the more common challenges that new moms run into include but are not limited to:
- Baby not latching on
- Baby falling asleep during nursing
- It is uncomfortable or hurts when the baby latches on
- Mastitis
- Cluster feeding
- Sore breasts or nipples
- Nursing away from home/in public
- Medical issues with baby or mom
- Knowing when it’s time to wean baby
While these are not the only challenges that come with nursing, there is not a challenge that can’t be overcome with the right tools, a little bit of time and a whole lot of patience.
Wrap Up
Breastfeeding is a wonderful gift that a woman can give to her baby, but also creates special bonding time for mother and baby together. That said, it is important to choose how you nurse your baby and what your breastfeeding experience looks like. Do not put such high expectations on yourself that you cannot enjoy the experience. Try not to view breastfeeding as something that you must do- but rather a commitment to your baby and to your baby’s health and to your own. There will be ups and downs, frustrations, and moments of overwhelm when you are nursing your baby. But taking the time to learn how to work through those moments and stay the course, will leave you with the gift of breastfeeding and bonding between you and your sweet new baby.
The PLC Health Clinic staff is here to offer advice, educational materials and support as you navigate your way into and through breastfeeding your baby. For more information contact us at 419-238-9177 or www.plchealthclinic.org
