The Breast is Best!

Many women do not know why breastfeeding is the right choice for their baby. Breastfeeding is the smartest and easiest thing a mother can do for their child. A mother's milk is uniquely designed for their growing baby, whereas formula is not. As a baby grows, the mother's milk changes to meet the needs of their developing child. In addition, all of the mother's immunities are given to the child, which in turn makes breastfed babies alot less likely to get sick than their formula fed friends. Not only does breast milk make your child healthier, breast milk also makes your child brighter. A study in England observed three hundred premature infants. Both groups were fed by tube, one with formula and one with their mother's milk. The group of premature infants that received their mother's milk during the first five weeks of life scored an average of 8.3 points higher on an IQ test when they reached 8 years of age; the more breast milk the children received in infancy, the IQ scores increased.

Nursing is also beneficial to the mother. A suckling infant stimulates oxytocin which contracts the uterus nearly to its pre-pregnancy size. Oxytocin is also the hormone that stimulates the "mother's intuition." Below is a list that summarizes the benefits of breastfeeding for mother and child.

"The most Important Health Benefits of Breastfeeding"
The Baby Book
Sears & Sears

Breastfed babies enjoy:

• brighter brains
• better vision
• fewer ear infection
• better dental alignment
• healthier hearts
• fewer respiratory infection
• less constipation
• less diabetes
• leaner bodies
• increased immunity
• healthier grown

Breastfed mothers enjoy:

• relaxation
• less depression
• natural child spacing
• less breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer
• faster postpartum weight loss (which is incredibly true, i am currently breastfeeding and i lost my baby fat in less than 6 months

Drugs to use caution with while breastfeeding.

• alochol
• antidepressant
• aspirin
• codeine
• Demerol
• general anesthetics
• indomethacin
• isoniazid
• lithium
• metoclopraimide
• metronidazole
• morphine
• birth control (only use progestin only pills, or the mini-pill)
• paxil
• phenobarbita
• prozac
• valium

Drugs to NEVER take while breastfeeding.

• amphetamines
• anticancer drugs
• cocaine
• cycoloporine
• heroin
• lindaine
• marijuana
• methotrexate
• mysoline
• parlodel
• PCP

Please use caution with sulfa in the newborn period.
Do not take tetracycline for longer than three weeks.
It is safe to breastfeed 6-12 hours after general anesthetics.

For Your Information

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first 6 months. and to start solids when the baby either reaches 6 months of age or has doubled their birth weight. Babies need breast milk of formula for the first year of life.

Prenatal nipple preparation is unnecessary.

Infants feed from the breast, not just the nipple, to prevent nipple soreness learn the correct way the baby should latch on. If you are having issues, please consult a lactation consultant or your local le leche league and seek support before giving up.
http://www.llli.org/

Avoid using soap on nipples. Soap will dry the nipples out and make them crack, if cracking occurs, i suggest using pure lanolin, it is completely safe for baby.

Ladies, don't wear under wire bras while breastfeeding. Not only is it completely unpractical to nurse in, they can plug your ducts!!

Contrary to popular belief, breastfeeding does not misshape your breasts, pregnancy does!

Most over the counter medication is safe to take during nursing. Even some seizure medications are fine.

For more extensive knowledge on breastfeeding, please visit sites such as:

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics%3B100/6/1035
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=home
http://www.babycenter.com

And go out and buy The Baby Book! It is my baby bible!


Remember your breast pads too!



-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gabriella Cook
Childbirth Educator
Gabbynadine1@gmail.com
Atlanta, GA