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Breastfeeding information on the benefits of breastfeeding, what supplies you need for breastfeeding,
medications while breastfeeding, breastfeeding diet, nipple shields, risk of formula feeding, and tips on weaning.
Benefits to Breastfeeding : 25 Excellent Reasons to Breastfeed by Tanya Roberts, Lactation Connection
1. The American Academy of Pediatrics & The World Health Organization recommends it
2. Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby
3. Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs
4. Breast milk provides perfect infant nutrition
5. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of breast cancer, uterine cancer and ovarian cancer
6. Formula feeding increases baby girls' risk of developing breast cancer in later life
7. Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q.
8. Breast milk comes is fast food with two convenient locations
9. Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby's immune system.
10. Breast milk is more digestible than formula
11. Baby's suckling helps shrink mother's uterus after childbirth
12. Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born
13. Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants. There is no substitute.
14. Breastfed babies have less gastrointestinal reflux (Spit-up)
15. Formula feeding increases risk of baby developing type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes
16. Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma
17. Formula feeding increases baby's risk of otis media (ear infections)
18. Formula feeding may increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome (S.I.D.S.)
19. Formula-fed babies are more at risk for obesity in later life
20. Breastfeeding results in fewer doctor's visits for baby and less sick days for parents
21. Breast milk is 98.6 degrees - warm and ready to feed
22. Breastfeeding hormones calm mom and baby
23. Breastfed baby's have better tooth and jaw development - less money at the orthodontist
24. Breast milk does not stain
25. Breast milk has never been recalled
Breastfeeding Supply List
Below you will find a shopping list for your breastfeeding supplies that may be helpful to new mothers:
__2-3 daytime soft cup nursing bras (no under wire)
__2-3 sleep bra__2 nursing gowns
__lanolin breast cream
__8-16 breast milk storage and feeding bottles
__16 washable cotton nursing pads or 72 disposable pads or 1 LiliPadz reusable pad initially
__1 auto-cycling double electric breast pump (for stay at home moms, purchase one that does not come with the tote bag, but always opt for a good double pump)
Optional items:
__breast milk freezer bags
__nursing canopy or cover
__1-2 nursing tanks
Risks of Artificial Feeding as Compiled by Dr. Jack Newman
Weaning: By Tanya Roberts as seen in Ask the Experts Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine Feature
In the almost 20 years I have been helping nursing mothers, I have noticed a trend that moms tend to shy
away from asking the needed questions about weaning. Perhaps they are afraid of judgment, but the truth
is a good Lactation Consultant is there to help you meet your goals, not hers. There are many
considerations for mothers when deciding to wean your baby such as mom's work schedule and baby's
health issues such as allergies. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding for at
least one year. If you choose to wean before one year, first make sure your baby tolerates other foods well.
Next absolutely, positively, do not wean cold turkey.
It is up to each mom when she chooses to wean, but we want moms to make informed decisions about
weaning. Most moms don't realize that partial weaning may be possible. When moms return to work
weaning may be a consideration. Alternatives such as pumping at work or partial weaning are possible
in most instances. Partial weaning works well when a baby is older than 4 months. Moms can choose
to use formula during the day while at work and still nurse in the morning and at night. Partial weaning
only works after milk supply is well established which is why you should wait until your baby is at least
four months of age before employing this method. If you try to employ this method prior to a
well-developed milk supply which occurs sometime between the third and fourth month, your milk
production will dwindle overall instead of drying up at the times you do not wish to nurse or pump.
To keep milk supply at an optimum, start partial weaning at the fourth month or later.
If you choose partial weaning, always follow the same schedule seven days per week. You cannot
put the baby to the breast in the middle of the day on the weekend, if you have weaned that feeding
during the week. Whether you choose to partially wean of fully wean, drop one feeding every three to
five days. For example, if you are nursing 8 times per day, drop one feeding in the middle of the day,
substitute formula, and continue that schedule for at least three days. At the end of the three days, if
your breasts have no discomfort or plugged ducts (which feel like a pebble or pea under the skin),
you can drop a second feeding. If you feel pain or discomfort at day three, wait until the 5th day to
drop another feeding if the issue has been resolved by that time.
If you choose complete weaning, continue dropping feedings every 3-5 days until all feeding are
dropped. After the last feeding is stopped, you may need to nurse or pump one or both breast a
final time within the next week to make yourself comfortable. Contrary to popular belief, one
pumping or nursing in a 24 hour period will not increase your milk supply and helps to alleviate
any discomfort and prevents plugged ducts which can lead to a breast infection called mastitis.
This weaning method is slow, but pain free. Sudden weaning can lead to clogged milk ducts,
breast infections and even breast abscess. If at any time you get chills, fever or flue like
symptoms during weaning, call your doctor for an antibiotic. Both you and baby will be happier
and healthier with gradual weaning when you listen to your body.
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