Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, baby's best start.  I'm sure you've heard it a million times.  But has anyone taken the time to explain WHY Breastfeeding is best?  Here are just some of the reasons.

• Breastmilk is the perfect food for babies.  It provides the perfect balance of fats and nutrition for baby at every stage in development.

• It provides increased immunities for baby

• Reduction in chances of cancers for both mom and baby.

• Breastfed babies have been shown to have higher IQs

I think the ProMom site has a great listing here.

For me, it was simple.  Yeah, with my first I did all the research and breastfed for the "right" reasons.  But when my second child came along it was simple... I am cheap, and I am lazy.  Breastfeeding was just a lot easier than dealing with bottles, especially at 3am.  I couldn't lose the bottles, only to find it 2 days later all nasty and smelly.  I wouldn't have to wash and sterilize the bottles, carry a cooler everywhere I went.  Plus, I wouldn't have to spend the hundreds to thousands of dollars on formula and bottles for the first year.  I wouldn't have to worry about formula stains on their clothes, or the smell of formula at all.

When my daughter was born, I was approached by the breastfeeding counselor at the WIC clinic about becoming a counselor.  I figured it couldn't hurt, so I began my training.  Working with pregnant and nursing moms was rewarding and started me on my journey to this site. 

Some great breastfeeding links on the web

Breastfeeding.com

La Leche League

ProMom

Some common concerns

Increasing milk supply from Kellymom

pumping & feeding instead of breastfeeding?

medications?

nursing in public?

Breastfeeding after Cesarean

More....

(to submit YOUR reasons for breastfeeding, e-mail me)