For parents and babies

A while ago I was sat in a coffee shop and there was a young mother sat breastfeeding her baby, she wasn’t being particularly exhibitionist about this but a man on the table next to her clearly took issue with this, and after five minutes of huffing and puffing asked her why she couldn’t do that in the toilet. To his complete surprise she handed the baby to her friend and walked to his table where she picked up his plate of toasted sandwiches and set off down the café. Completely stunned he asked her where she was going, she replied “I’m taking your dinner to the toilet where you can finish it off”

Facts in favour of breastfeeding

• Its designed for the job
  Breast milk has been evolved over millions of years and is 100% fit for purpose, it contains over 100 more ingredients than cows milk and cant be duplicated in a laboratory. On top of this breastmilk is in tune with your baby and will develop and evolve with your growing child

   

• Its easy to drink
  Breast milk is easier for a baby to digest and reduces the risk of baby being sick after feeding

   

• Its clean and safe
  There are no bottles to sterilise and lower risk of infection over formula milk. There is no need to clean your nipples beforehand, as any bacteria present will help your babys immune system

   

• It makes fro stronger teeth
  Babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop cavities later in life, this is due to the perfect fit of babies mouth and mothers nipple giving her mouth a better workout and strengthening the gums, pallet and cheak muscles

   

• It keeps antibodies topped up
  Important antibodies are passed fro the mother to the baby. In addition studies have shown baby is less likely to develop allergies later in life 

   

• It helps reduce obesity
  The main reason for this falls down to the parent. A breat fed baby is likely to stop one it is full, where as a bottle fed baby is encouraged to drink until the bottle is empty. Also the hind milk (the milk the baby receives at the end of a brastfeeding session is higher in calories and thus makes baby feel full.

   

• Nappy rash can be reduced
  Breast fed babies are less likely to develop nappy rash

   

• It feeds the grey cells
  Some syudies have shown that breastfeeding can increase the brain activity in your baby, this is caused by the presence of fatty acids (DHA) which is attributes with an increased IQ.

   

• Its handy and costs less
  This is the best convenience food that money can buy. It takes no time at all to prepare and yo don’t have to sterilize your breasts! And of course it is free

   

• Bonds baby to mum
  there is skin to skin contact and eye to eye contact which any nursing mother will tell you gives you a great opportunity to cuddle and create a strong bond with your baby

   

• Builds bones
  Not just in the baby, but women who breastfeed are less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life

   

• Reduces the risk of pregnancy
  Ovulation and menstruation are suppressed in most nursing mothers, this isn’t 100% so practice caution

• Longer satisfaction for baby
  The residue from formula milk stays in baby’s stomach for longer than breast milk which extends the ga p between feeds

   

• Easy monitoring of intake
  Clearly you have a better understanding of how much your baby is drinking and so can control this better

   

• More freedom for the mother
  Feeding from a bottle doesn’t tie the baby to the mother 24 hours a day, tha father or older siblings can take some of the responsibility

   

• Fewer demands for the new mother
  A difficult birth can leave the mother exhausted, you may be great full of the rest that bottle feeding can bring

   

• Father participation
  The father is able to participate at feeding times, leaving the mother to rest more

   

• Wear what you want
  There are less restrictions on what you wear when you’re out of the house

   

• Less restricted birth control
  A bottle feeding mother isn’t as restricted with birth control methods as a breastfeeding mother is

   

• More sex (potentially)
  A breast feeding mother’s vagina can potentially dry out due to hormonal changes, not so with a bottle fed baby.