Breastfeeding Mistakes and Fixes

For quite some time, mothers have been told that supplements are just as good if not better then breast-milk but study upon study point out that nothing even comes close to fresh milk produced by the mother for her growing child.

Why do we breastfeed?

Whether you are an evolutionist or believer, you cannot deny that we are a mammal. One of the key tenets of being a mammal is that you actually give birth to live children who then breastfeed for an extended period of time. Unlike birds who essentially eat pre-digested food brought by both parents or reptiles that are born with all the skills needed to catch their first meals, us mammals are born completely defenseless. We generally reproduce slowly over an extended period of time, unlike insects that give birth to thousands of youngsters in one shot. This is where breastfeeding come into place. It’s very taxing on a woman to continue fetal development within the womb and the birth canal is a very narrow road indeed so to have optimal children, mammals continue the process of fetal development outside the womb. Although we aren’t as extreme as Kangaroos, we are about middle of the road compared to say a whale or elephant.

What is breast milk?

Breast milk can be thought of as the original supplement produced by nature, it has all the vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins and even hormones that a baby needs for optimal health throughout a lifetime. There have been a number of studies published which indicate that the benefits of breast milk over formula continue to pay dividends even when the child progresses to solid food. Unlike formula, it does not rot teeth, it does not produce nauseous surprises in diapers and even helps the child fight immune system invaders when they have none developed yet!

Vital Stats

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control), out of the 74% of mothers that try breast feeding, only 30% are still doing it three months later and six months later, the number drops to 11%. This is scary to say the least, I could argue that this is one of the many risk factors leading to future health problems. The more “primitive” the society, the more they tend to breastfeed both in duration and proportion, there is also information indicating these societies have less relative health problems as well (hmmm…).

Breast Feeding Statistics

Being a man, I feel lucky I don’t have the body changes that happen with producing and feeding a child but thanks to CNN, they have given a list of top 5 problems and fixes with feeding the little critters.

Mistake #1: Solitary Confinement

Breastfeeding has become a solitary activity in our modern culture, mothers with problems are left to their own devices to figure out answers. This is ashame as most mothers, well, breastfed and haven gone through a few children, are vast untapped resources as to improving the experience and avoiding problems. Start a support group if none is around, visit the local hospital or ask your doctor if there is one around to attend.

Mistake #2: Not Learning from Success

If you have a friend or family member that recently had children, ask them to help you if with your problems. Your own mother and your extended family may also be great resources, tap them!

Mistake #3: Got MORE Milk?

Babies sometimes enjoy the process of nursing a little too much, they just won’t stop, don’t worry, when the baby is full, he or she will stop and give you a break. Don’t assume you aren’t producing enough milk, hence the reason for excessive nursing but if you have concerns, use a breast pump to measure production or see a doctor to make sure everything is alright.

Mistake #4: Breastfeeding with Strangers

Don’t worry, breasts are breasts… you had your legs open during birth in front of complete strangers so showing your breasts can’t be any worse. Your baby will thank you and there is no reason to be shy.

Mistake #5: Rivers aren’t build in a Day!

When you begin breastfeeding your child, you don’t produce copious amounts of milk equivalent to the neighborhood cow! At first, the production amount is highly concentrated and more colostrum then milk, measured in teaspoons, not the gallon. Keep at it and the river will soon build itself up as your baby develops.

The Bottom Line

Motherhood and breastfeeding should go hand in hand. It’s what is best for you, your baby and ultimately the survival of the human species. We have been breastfeeding our offspring for well over a million years, don’t be so quick to jump to formula if you experience a few issues.

Buzzvia
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/08/09/ep.breastfeeding/index.html