Journal Entry

To breast feed or not to breast feed

The pros and cons of breast feeding your baby are plentiful. Both mother and child can receive definite health benefits, however, not every mother or baby will benefit equally from breast feeding. In the end, the choice to breast feed or not to breast feed your baby depends on what you feel is right for you and your child. Use the following information to help you determine what choice you want to make.

Breast feeding benefits for babies

During your pregnancy, you most likely debated whether to breast feed or not, however, now that your baby has arrived you need to make a decision. Your first concern as a mother is what is best for your baby. Breast milk is much healthier for babies than formula. It contains the vitamins, hormones, antibodies and other nutrients that your baby needs for proper development during his or her first six months of life.

Studies have documented several health benefits for breast fed babies. First of all, because breast milk is the perfect formula for babies, it reduces the chances that your baby will develop stomach and intestinal irritations and conditions like diarrhea and colic. Breast feeding also has been shown to lower the risk for ear infections and respiratory problems in babies.

The emotional bonding that is created during a breast feeding session has also been shown to produce benefits. Because emotional bonding stimulates brain development during the early months of life, babies who have been breast fed tend to have higher IQs than non-breast fed babies.

Babies who have been breast fed also are less likely to develop SIDs, Type 1 Diabetes and high blood pressure. Research suggests that these trends are created by the antibodies and the nutritional elements found in breast milk. These same elements are also attributed to lower risk rates for being over weight and having allergies.

Breast feeding benefits for moms

In addition to providing several health benefits for your baby, breast feeding also can be beneficial for your health. First of all, breast feeding is going to help you recover faster from your pregnancy. For example, it can help you to lose your baby weight faster because your body burns a lot of calories producing milk each day. Breast feeding will also help to lower your perceived stress by producing brain chemicals called endorphins, which make you feel great. Research has also shown that breast feeding helps to reduce the risk for certain types of cancers by lowering your estrogen levels and changing the tissue formations in your breasts. Finally, breast feeding your baby can help you to reduce your chances of developing osteoporosis later on in your life.

Cons of breast feeding

While there is a long laundry list of advantages for breast feeding your baby after your pregnancy, there are also a few drawbacks that make breastfeeding unattractive or impossible for some mothers. If you breast feed your baby then you will not get a lot of sleep. Breast fed babies require two to three hours of nursing a day. This means that you will generally not get more than four hours of sleep at a time during the first six months of your baby’s life. This challenging schedule can lead to fatigue and exhaustion. If you had a difficult pregnancy, or if you have medical conditions that are already stressing your body, then breast feeding your baby may not be in your best interest.

The next issue is practicality. If you work then you may find it difficult to continue to breast feed your baby. Even if you can pump at work, it isn’t always a realistic option. In order to make pumping at work practical, you need a way to store the milk to keep it cool. You will also need a private place to pump and the time to pump. All of these requirements may make pumping at work too challenging.

The final issue is medical concerns. There are a lot of physical problems that can develop during and after breast feeding. Mastitis, engorgement and milk ducts that get clogged can create pain, infections and a variety of other medical problems. When you stop breast feeding your once full breasts can shrivel and sag making them look unattractive and more like those of an older woman.

Making a choice

Now that you know the pros and cons of breast feeding after your pregnancy you can weigh your options and decide whether your baby should, or should not, be breast fed. This is a decision that you need to make for yourself. Don’t let anyone pressure you one way or the other. After all it’s your body and your relationship with your child. You need to do what you think is best for the two of you.

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