Breast-Feeding! DO IT!

The working mom. The busy mom. The mother of 1, the mother of 4. It really doesn't matter which type of mother you are, if you are the mother (or soon to be mom) of a newborn infant then you SHOULD breast feed your baby!

Breast milk is the best milk. I repeat, BREAST MILK IS THE BEST MILK!

Numerous studies in countries all over the world have demonstrated that human breast milk is superior to any artificial formula on the market. Artificial milk is designed to appear "thicker" than breast milk and more "creamy", which causes many consumers to assume that artificial formula more filling or healthier for their baby. In actuality, the creamy/thick appeareance of formula is due to the larger fat content of artificial milk compared to breast milk. Infants who are exclusively bottle fed are more likely to develop adolescent/adult obesity and are at greater risk for diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular disease.

In addition to the obesity link, children who breastfeed for the first 6 months of life have fewer sick visits (less trips to the pediatrician), decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), lower rates of tonsillitis, upper respiratory infections, and fewer ear infections. In developing nations, breast milk has actually been associated with a decrease infant mortality. In industrialized nations (like the US, Canada, etc) breast feeding has been associated with fewer infant hospitalizations in addition to decrease rate in infant death.

Breast milk contains many unique properties which formula milk lacks. Breast milk contains cells from the mother's immune system that help to provide infants with the tools to fight off infection. A baby's immunue system is immature. Since babies live in a sterile world inside of the uterus an infant is not immediately prepared t deal with all of the germs present in the outside world, thus putting infants at a higher risk of infection when compared with adults. Until the baby's immune system begins to recognize and defend itself against bacteria and viruses, the mother's immune cells are passed through the breast milk into the baby's system and are available to help keep baby healthy and feeling well.

Many of the immune cells are lost with freezing of breast milk, so make sure to squeeze in a few breast feeding meals between pumping. Breast milk is good for 24 hours if kept refrigerated and the immune cells are not destroyed with refrigeration. Therefore, once its time to return to work, you could pump several bottles in the evening, freeze some and leave the others in the refrigerator. That way some of the feedings will contain cells from your immune system and the others will contain vitiamins and minerals that formulas cannot duplicate!

Breastfeeding also benefits mom! Some of the maternal advantages to breastfeeding are:
1) It's FREE (and face it, this is a recesion)
2)It helps your uterus shrink faster than without breast feeding (so you can fit into your Beyonce jeans faster)
3)Birth control-mothers who exclusively breast feed are at a decreased risk of becoming pregnant.
4)Bonding- it is a way to bond with your your newborn

The American Dietetic Association recommends the infants should be exclusively feed breast milk (that means NOTHING ELSE, ONLY MILK FROM THE BREAST) for the first 6 months of life! After 6 months, baby food can be introduced with breast milk until 12 months of life.

Remember, breast milk is truly the best thing for you and your baby. Give your baby the best chance at life and start them off right!

(c) CGees 2008