Baby Diaries – A Guide for New Mothers 2: Breastfeeding Baby

Part   one  was about what happens at the hospital before baby comes home for the first time. Here we will discuss the issue of breastfeeding.

I’ve chosen to talk about breastfeeding obviously because it’s best for your infant. There is no one left on earth who has given birth to a child, who does not know the advantages of nature’s milk. Of all the foods on earth, breast milk is the most complete! It gives baby all that she/he needs, and in the right proportions for the first six months of her/his life.

The Advantages of Breast Milk for the Mother

• It provides the perfect opportunity to bond quickly with your baby, and establishes a superbly close relationship.
• Your womb returns to its normal size more quickly and effectively.
• There are recent scientific researches which suggest that mothers who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast cancer when they get older.
• The process of making breast milk in your body uses up the extra fat you stored during pregnancy.
• Breast milk needs no heating, preparation, or washing and sterilizing of bottles.

The Advantages of Breast Milk for Baby

• It varies in strength and substance at various times. For example, just after delivery the mother’s milk (called colostrum) is thin and watery and comes with special nutrients which is perfectly matched to your baby’s first needs.
• It contains antibodies – which can only be made by the mother’s body – to help fight off various diseases and infections.
• It may help to prevent juvenile diabetes, especially in children who’re intolerant to certain proteins found in cow’s milk. This helps not only in infancy, but throughout their childhood.
• It helps protect against allergic reactions many children have to animal milks.
• It is naturally matched especially to your individual baby so it’s easily digested. This prevents upset tummies and constipation/diarrhoea.
• It has special fatty acids (made in the human body) which aids in brain cell development.

How You Produce Milk

Image via Wikipedia

Each breast is divided into twenty lobes, all containing milk-producing glands. Some mothers start producing milk during their pregnancy, but others do just when the baby needs it – at the time of birth. I fell into the second group.