Although babies are born everyday, your baby is special and this experience will be for you, your partner and your families, a life changing adventure.
You, of course, want to offer all the best to your baby. Selecting a great crib, high chair, car seat, and baby clothes is the start. You will decide to use Huggies, pampers, or perhaps spend a little more on the environmentally friendly disposables. Perhaps you will choose clothe diapers. Whatever, your choice I am sure it will be well thought out.
So you have selected your health care provider, a midwife or physician, who you have given your complete trust to. At one of your early appointments, a conscientious practitioner will ask you how you plan to feed your baby. If you haven't already decided, you may be reluctant to answer. This is when a thorough provider will put down their computer, have a seat and talk with you about the benefits of breast milk and the role of breast milk substitute (formula).
Having attended over 2000 births and managing the care of thousands of pregnancies, I realize that not everyone is geared to go with breastfeeding. Perhaps it is a certain discomfort viewing the breast as an organ other than sexual. Perhaps it is fear of failure or fear of discomfort. Whatever the reason, not everyone, no matter how intelligent or motivated has breastfeeding checked off on their to do list. I get it.
But, that doesn't mean I won't try my best to pursued you to try. So here it is.....
By now you must know that breast milk is the best and most complete form of nutrition for babies. It is not always available to babies as some mothers unfortunately carry disease that can be spread through breast milk. Other babies may be separated from their mothers shortly after birth. But, for most babies, mothers breast milk is readily available and at no cost. What a deal!!
During you pregnancy you notice your breasts changing. The nipple and surrounding area becomes darker with natural pigments, and the small bumps circling your nipple, Montgomery tubercles, enlarge a bit as they secrete a lubricant to prepare your nipples for nursing. Your breasts may enlarge and you may, at times near the end of the pregnancy, leak a bit of colostrum. This all part of the natural process of human life preparing for the birth of offspring.
The first 3-5 days after birth, you baby will greatly benefit from colostrum as your body is producing milk which should be in by day 5. The more stimulation your breast receives by way of sucking or expression, the more milk will be available. Think of this as supply and demand. The more you nurse the more you make.
What makes this colostrum and milk so special is the perfect blend of nutrients. Fats, proteins vitamins and minerals are all prepared by natures perfect formulation. Even better is the presence of antibodies. These antibodies are the microscopic armies that we need to fight off disease. Studies have proven that the human breast milk is so powerful that is will benefit the baby by:
1. Reducing the risk of asthma
2. Reduces the risk of stomach and bowel diseases ( gastrointestinal disease)
3. Reduces the risk of diabetes
4. Reduces the risk of some types of leukemia
5. Reduces the risk of skin conditions (dermatitis)
Breastfeeding will benefit you by reducing you risk for:
1. Reducing your risk for breast cancer
2. Reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes
There are many other benefits for you and your baby such as enhanced bonding. The breastfed baby has its senses stimulated by the presence of mother holding and nurturing which is very important for the sense of security infants develop.
Breastfeeding does't require coupons. It is free and readily available at the perfect temperature.
So what are the obstacles?
Sometimes dads and family members don't see the point. Well meaning folks who want help out and think it is too much work for the new mother to deal with may gently offer the bottle. Their usual comment is, "I bottle fed my children and they are fine".
Many times a mother who is exhausted may be sabotaged in the hospital by a nurse who has no interest in helping her breastfeed. She may be offered a pill to help her sleep (I have never seen a woman who couldn't sleep on her own after delivering a baby- Do not accept a sleeping pill in the hospital if you are nursing!!) So instead of sitting with the mother and doing her job, she tries to come across as a little angel and let mommy sleep while she brings baby to nursery for a bottle. A bad move that I have witnessed too often.
Pediatricians who don't want to be bothered with phone calls from breastfeeding moms may simply encourage the bottle to save themselves from being disturbed.
So the great debate breast or bottle is what will you do. Educate yourself with every piece of literature you can. As you scan the pages for the best crib you can afford think of the best nutrient for you baby you can't afford to dismiss. If you have terrible anxiety over putting you baby to breast seek professional counseling during your pregnancy because this is not a normal healthy response. If you can't get support from others who want to help you feed the baby, then pump milk into a bottle for them to offer baby.
Most importantly, find a knowledgeable health care provider who will support you, a pediatrician who is known for fully supporting the breast feeding mom and a lactation consultant who you can work with as nursing does take a bit of trial and error and although natural there can be a little learning curve for some to overcome. Be patient and know you are offering your child the best. An expensive private education is a wonderful option for a child but it doesn't compare to he importance of mothers milk.
When babies are not offered mothers milk, there are several breast milk substitutes which are highly regarded and best used. These babies should be held frequently, bottles should be held in place by the person feeding the baby and eye contact should be offered during feedings.
Most hospital have certified lactation consultants. Others offer free drop in centers like the Baby Cafe in Melrose MA. There is the National Breastfeeding Hotline as well as LaLeche League.
I may not be ready to mandate all mothers breastfeed their babies but I do say "Go for it". If it doesn't work out for you at least you can say you tried it. If it ends up being the best thing you ever do for your baby, you will be very proud and the health of your baby will astonish many.
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