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About Your Baby About
Your Baby - Main
Page /
Brought to you by: Rexanne.com
Breastfeeding Your Baby
“There are
three reasons for breast-feeding: the milk is always at the right
temperature; it comes in attractive containers; and the cat can't get
it.” - Irena Chalmers |
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While I would support any woman in her decision to breastfeed or not, I do believe breastfeeding is best for many reasons, the most important one being your baby's nutrition. Consider Mom's breast milk nature's gift to baby and to mom. The ease, convenience and financial aspects alone of breastfeeding are obvious. Breast milk is said to guard your baby against illness by supplying baby with any immunities Mom already owns. Well, there are exceptions to every rule and yeah, my younger daughter is one of those exceptions in this case. At seven weeks old, my baby was being breastfed, with occasional bottles of formula to supplement. My older daughter developed chicken pox at that time. Our pediatrician assured me that my infant would not contract the disease due to my standing immunity. She got them anyway, within two weeks of having been exposed. It was no big deal, she only had a few pox total and ran a minor fever, however, she managed to contract a nasty streptococcus infection in the first pock that opened. While her bout with chicken pox was no biggie, the ensuing infection almost killed her. So much for breast milk immunity. But do consider that probably 99.9 percent of babies will attain most, if not all immunities from their mother's breast milk and just understand that exceptions do happen. Neither of my babies had any problems learning to breastfeed. Some babies do. If you get anywhere near enough time in the hospital, the nursing staff will most likely instruct you on how to position baby, how to encourage baby to 'latch on' and offer information on general breastfeeding basics. Most babies readily accept the breast and feed just fine. It's amazing how instinctual baby's feeding can be. Sore and cracked nipples will plague many women through the first few weeks or more of breastfeeding. This is no picnic. The first week or two, your breasts will become so tender that baby latching on to a full breast could send you to the moon. Sorry. It sucks. ;-) It does get better, however, and will become painless soon enough. If not, there are many remedies, ointments and medications that mothers can use to help the condition. Speak with your doctor about possible remedies and or medications to help you through this transitional phase and try very hard not to blame your baby. Baby will be oblivious to your suffering. Get used to this ... ;-) A nursing pillow makes life more comfortable for both of you. Mostly, you'll have a place to rest your arm (Baby can get heavy after a while!) Breastfeeding brings a few other complications, too, such as nursing in public, pumping milk if you have to return to work shortly after having baby, being 'on call' 24/7, wearing nursing bras with pads (best get over your sexy self now LOL). They are all surmountable and you'll adapt and become a pro in no time. Public scrutiny of nursing mothers has become somewhat of a trend in certain places on our planet, whereas in others, it is as natural and normal as any other basic human need. I can't imagine a person becoming upset by seeing a mother breastfeeding in public, however, I would advise nursing moms to be discreet. This has a lot to do with common courtesy, good manners and a desire to maintain some semblance of modesty. There are women who feel that yanking out a bare breast in public, no matter who's present or where, is perfectly acceptable. If you are one of these women, please try to understand that not everyone is as free-spirited, immodest or naturally unencumbered by societal limitations as you have the good luck to be. No, this wouldn't bother me, nor would it freak me out if you did this in front of either of my children. It does bother a percentage of people, however. Just a word of wisdom: be considerate of others even if you feel they are uptight, old-fashioned or ridiculously conservative. A little compassion and respect for our fellow human beings goes a long way. Discretion will also avoid your adding to the pool of public nursing finger shakers. Thank you. End of lecture. :-) There are lots of great nursing products on the market, including these adorable nursing cover-ups in a variety of colors and patterns. Many pediatricians advise against giving your baby water. While the rationale against offering water to baby inclines toward baby possibly not wanting to nurse, it was never an issue with my babies. The human body is mostly water. We need water. Babies are human. Shouldn't they drink pure, fresh (distilled only) water, too? My father, who is a nutritionist, assured me that giving my babies water was acceptable. I did, and they fed on breast milk like starving little piranhas all the same. And what kind of buddy would I be without adding links to online resources to make your breastfeeding experience as hassle free and pleasant as it should be? ;-) Here they are:
One final word on the subject of breastfeeding: enjoy the bonding that develops between you and your baby while nursing. It is a very special and wondrous time. While I only nursed three months with each of my daughters, some mothers nurse their babies for a number of years. However long it lasts, know that you are as an amazing creation as your baby. After all, you are giving life and feeding life. Wow ... pretty heady stuff when you stop to consider all you do, huh? :-)
Feeding Your Baby About Your Baby - Site Map This site provides general information and the author's opinions. It is designed for educational purposes only. Always consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns about the health of your child. |
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