Baby Parenting Guide

What are the benefits of breast feeding? How much more does it help with baby's development and such?

I'm 30 weeks pregnant and still don't know if I want to breast feed. No one in my family has,so it has just been natural for me to not really put much thought into breast feeding. Although everyone tells me that breast feeding is more healthier,I was wondering why is this? Are there not any good formulas that work just the same? Any help/advice would be great. Also,if I did breast feed what foods and stuff do you normally have to eat or not eat? Thanks.

Public Response to What are the benefits of breast feeding? How much more does it help with baby's development and such?

1. well 1st & for most it gaves the baby immunity studies show less children get sick etc. I will be breastfeeding becuase for 1 its cheap! you save so much money... for 2 when the baby is crying in the middle of the night i would rather give him what he wants then make him wait while making a bottle, its more convenient if you stay home all time i do. you can buy a shawl and wear it in public no1 will know your feeding him or her. its give you and your baby a deeper bond! and when they start getting their bottom teeth if they are lached on correctly they wont be able to bite you because their tongue is blockign the teeth. the doctor can show you a tecnique on how to keep them from biting by flipping them on the top lip once they get those teeth. be patiant.
2. Breastfeeding is more than a lifestyle choice — it's an important health choice. Any amount of time that you can do it will help both you and your baby. There are many benefits of breast milk for mothers, babies, and others. Benefits for Babies, Moms, and Families Breastfeeding is normal and healthy for infants and moms. Breast milk has disease-fighting cells called antibodies that help protect infants from germs, illness, and even SIDS. Infant formula cannot match the exact chemical makeup of human milk, especially the cells, hormones, and antibodies that fight disease. Breastfeeding is linked to a lower risk of these health problems: In Infants: In Moms: Ear infections Stomach viruses Diarrhea Respiratory infections Atopic dermatitis Asthma Obesity Type 1 and type 2 diabetes Childhood leukemia Sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS Necrotizing enterocolitis, a disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract in pre-term infants Type 2 diabetes Breast cancer Ovarian cancer Postpartum depression (PPD) Studies are still looking at the effects of breastfeeding on osteoporosis and weight loss after birth. How small is a newborn's tummy? Photo courtesy of La Leche League International Breast milk is different from infant formula. Colostrum, the thick yellow first breast milk that you make during pregnancy and just after birth, will give your baby the best start at life. It is known as "liquid gold." It is very rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby as he or she first enters the world. Although your baby only gets a small amount of colostrum at each feeding, it matches the amount his or her tiny stomach can hold. A newborn stomach is only the size of a large marble at first! Your milk changes over time to meet your baby's needs. Your breast milk that begins to be made by the third to fifth day after birth has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth. It will be a thinner type of milk, but just as full of all of the nutrients and antibodies for your baby. For most babies, breast milk is easier to digest than formula. It takes time for their stomachs to adjust to digesting the proteins in formula because they are made from cow's milk. Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula. Additional Resources For more information on infant formula safety issues, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. When you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize. Unlike human milk straight from the breast, infant formula has a chance of being contaminated. Breastfeeding makes your life easier. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night! Breastfeeding can save you between $1,160 and $3,915 per year, depending on the brand of formula. A mother can satisfy her baby's hunger right away with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby, helping them bond. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm, and comforted. Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness and bonding with their infants. Breastfeeding during an emergency can save lives. [Return to Top] Benefits for Society Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations. Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce. Breastfeeding mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often. Employer medical costs also are lower and employee productivity is higher. Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies. [Return to Top] The U.S. Surgeon General Recommends Breastfeeding The U.S. Surgeon General recommends that babies be fed with breast milk only for the first six months of life. This means not giving your baby any other food or drink — not even water — during this time. Drops of liquid vitamins, minerals, and medicines are, of course, fine, as advised by your baby's doctor. It is even better if you can breastfeed for your baby's first year or longer, for as long as you both wish. Solid iron-rich foods, such as iron-fortified cereals and pureed vegetables and meats, can be started when your baby is around six months old. Before that time, a baby's stomach cannot digest them properly. Solids do not replace breastfeeding. Breast milk stays the baby's main source of nutrients during the first year. Beyond one year, breast milk can still be an important part of your child's diet Aside from all this useful information, I breastfed
3. Breast feeding is much better because not only does it promote a stronger bond between mother and child, but your body knows when you baby is sick or is dehydrated or anything like that, and will produce the milk in accordance to what your baby needs. Some examples are, if you start getting sick, your body will make thicker milk with more antibodies and healing agents in it. In the summer, when it's too hot out, your body will produce a more watery milk, so that your baby will be hydrated enough, and that goes for any kind of situation. Plus with breastfeeding, you baby is unlikely to over eat, like formula fed babies tend to, because with breast feeding, your baby has to work a little harder to get the milk, so they will only take what they need. Plus it's been proven that mothers who breast feed their babies tend to have smarter children, children who are breast fed tend to be better in math and sciences compared to those who were bottle fed. And with breast feeding, the breast and nipple duo, help to shape the gums of your baby as he or she grows, they are more likely to have straighter teeth. There's tons of benefits.. Even though there is nothing wrong with forumal, breast feeding is still much more beneficial, for both the mother and baby. With the diet, just eat as healthy as you can, still try to avoid caffiene as much as possible, eat lots of greens and fresh fruits, and if you breast feed, continue to take your prenatal vitamins until you stop breast feeding. And drink lots of water. Hope this all helped. :)
4. The benefits to you and baby are HUGE when you breastfeed. Breastmilk contains living organism that cannot be copied in formula. *Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies *The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant's individual growth and changing nutritional needs * Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.) * Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis * Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets * Reduced risk of childhood diabetes * Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning), * Protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease * Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed. * Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, crohn's disease and ulcerative entercolits * Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities) *Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech, straighter teeth and enhances vision. * Breastfed infants develop higher IQ's, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18. (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development...there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development)) * Reduced risk of heart disease later in life *Increased bone density * Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual development of babies * Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers * Antibody response to vaccines are higher * Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life * The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby's blood * Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia * Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis * There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus....and many others * Less risk of childhood obesity Health Benefits to Moms Who Breastfeed * Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers * Reduced risk of anemia * Protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life * Reduced risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with total time of lactation * Helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss...1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores... can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day. * Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies * Develops a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child *Breastmilk is free- reducing or eliminating the cost of formula (in the thousands of dollars/per year) * Breastfed babies are sick less thus reducing healthcare costs to family in Doctor office visits, prescriptions, over the counter medicine purchases, and hospitalizations * Moms miss less time off from work due to child related illnesses * Helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding I have always said that any mother who knows all the benefits of breastfeeding would not formula feed their child unless they were physically or medically unable too.
5. The list of benefits is VAST. A few general catagories of benefits: 1. Breastmilk contains antibodies that protect baby against illness. So breastfed babies are less likely to get sick, and if they DO get sick, they tend to be less sick. 2. Babies are never allergic to breastmilk. (Though they can occassionally be allergic to something in mom's diet.) Cows milk and soy, OTOH, are common allergins. 3. The nutrients in breastmilk are perfectly designed by nature to meet the needs of the baby. THe iron, for example, is easily absorbed, while the iron in formula is poorly absorbed and must therefore be added in larger amounts, which can cause constipation. 4. Suckling on the breast stregnthens baby's jaw, making it less likely that she'll need braces. 5. Breastfed babies can't overeat, so weight gain is usually perfect. (If baby wants to nurse extra long, she can suckle in such a way that she gets little milk.) 6. Breastmilk appears to offer some protection against childhood cancers, allergies, SIDS, and many other non-infectious illnesses. 7. The fats in breastmilk enhance brain development -- statistically breastfed babies score a few points higher on IQ tests. (Even when the research corrects for other factors, like socio-economic status.) Formula is an adequate substitute for breastmilk. Most formula fed babies do ok, and the basic nutrition is the same. But there are NO formulas that are 'just the same.' If you choose to breastfeed, you can eat a normal diet. There are no foods you need to routinely avoid. (And this include alcohol and caffeine in moderation.) IF you notice that baby is fussy/gassy after you eat a particular food, you can try eliminating it for a few days and see if it helps. Here are a couple of links with good info. (I'd offer more, but they're bookmarked on another computer.) http://www.kellymom.com/ http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496
6. It's amazingly good for the baby with all the built in immunities, nutrition factor, high fat content I believe to that baby of yours growing. I too come from a family that doesn't breast feed, and it seriously weirds me out and I really don't want to do it, but I will force myself for as long as I can because there are just too many reasons to do it, and only one reason not to (the my not liking it part). Babies tend to be healthier on average growing up, may be a little chubbier in the beginning, but babies that were breast fed have a much lower rate of obesity or being over weight as an adult. You'll save lots of money by not having to by the formula. And even on the back of formula it says mothers milk is best. Heck they're even saying they can't match or top what breast milk gives our babies. You'll also most likely have an easier time loosing the baby weight (about 500 extra calories a day burned) and many women say it's great for bonding. I believe there is also research that says women who breast feed have a lower risk of Post Partum depression. It's like if you have a baby, and your body has prepared all this milk and then you don't use it and it has to dry up right away, your body may "think" that it lost the child. Or so I hear. As far as what to eat, just keep a good well balanced, healthy diet. Nothing really extreme. Hope I helped and congrats :)
7. This is too big of a question for a simple answer. You really should just search "benefits of breast feeding"...you will be astounded by all of them...and many are for YOU as much as for the baby (like decreasing risks of certain types of cancer). There is no such thing as a formula that is "just the same"...it's actually not even close. Breastmilk changes EVERY day of your child's life & grows with them. Formula is the same on day one as on day 364...no change. Your milk offers immune system boosters you cannot get from formula - such as a huge reduction in many health risks. Here is just a SHORT list (there are longer lists & more data if you research it): * Acute otitis media ( middle ear infections): Babies that were ever breastfed had a 23 percent lower incidence of acute otitis media than exclusively formula fed babies. * Atopic dermatitis (type of eczema): In families with a history of atopy, exclusive breastfeeding for at least 3 months was found to have a 42 percent reduction in atopic dermatitis compared with breastfeeding for less than 3 months. * Gastrointestinal infections: Infants who were breastfeeding had a 64 percent reduction in the risk of non-specific gastroenteritis compared with infants who were not breastfeeding. * Lower respiratory tract diseases: There is a 72 percent reduction in the risk of hospitalization due to lower respiratory tract diseases in infants less than 1 year of age who were exclusively breastfed for 4 months or more. * Asthma: Breastfeeding for at least 3 months was associated with a 27 percent reduction in the risk of asthma for those without a family history of asthma and a 40 percent reduction for those with a family history of asthma. * Type 1 Diabetes: Breastfeeding for at least 3 months results in between a 19 and 27 percent reduction in incidence of childhood Type 1 Diabetes compared with breastfeeding for less than 3 months (findings confirmed through multiple studies, but some cause for caution in interpreting results). * Type 2 Diabetes: Found a 39 percent reduction in risk of Type 2 diabetes later in life for people that were breastfed as infants (some cause for caution in interpreting results). * Childhood Leukemia: Breastfeeding for at least 6 months associated with 19 percent decrease in risk of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia and a 15 percent decrease in the risk of acute myelogenous leukemia. * Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): The meta-analysis found that breastfeeding was associated with a 36 percent reduction in the risk of SIDS compared to not breastfeeding. Another study completed since the meta-anlaysis was done found a 50 percent reduction in the risk of SIDS as a result of breastfeeding. http://www.phdinparenting.com/2009/05/14/the-scientific-benefits-of-breastfeeding/ The thing is, how does it make sense to believe that anything is better or equal to breastfeeding since the milk a human produces is uniquely designed to protect & nourish human offspring. Would you ever wonder if kitten formula was as good or better than a mother cat nursing? Heck no - because cats ALWAYS nurse - so it's standard to believe that feline milk is uniquely designed to feed kitten. It's no different for us. FWIW formula feeding is the norm here too. I didn't know very many women who even tried nursing. I didn't get much support at all except for the support I sought out (like LeLeche League, Lactation Consultants, etc)...and it isn't easy - but the more I read & researched the more I knew I couldn't just not try once I KNEW how much better it was for my baby & for myself. I owed to both of us to try & keep trying. I struggled a LOT, I didn't think I would make it to six weeks & every time I wanted to quit I just went back & searched for more info & what I found would push me further on...and somehow I seriously ended up making it not only to a year - but well beyond. For that dedication my child has a chance at a healthier life & that means something to me. A child who is not breastfed might not be sick (I wasn't breastfed & wasn't a terribly sick kid) BUT they will never reach their full "health potential" because they weren't given the best building blocks to get there. As far as foods - you just need to worry about a balanced diet (and prenatals vitamins) for YOU. baby is most often fine. Some babies have food sensitivities, but most do not. You should keep caffeine intake to a minimum (and for me I avoided it for the first 6 months). An EXCELLENT resource you should checkout is kellymom.com - it will tell you all of this & more! GL & congrats on the upcoming baby!
8. Oh goodness, there are so many reasons to breastfeed I'm going to assume other people are going to cover the benefits for the baby. So i am going to tell you my "selfish" reasons to breastfeed! 1) It helps shrink your uterus faster so you look skinner sooner. 2) Cost ~ its free! Formula will run you around $120 a month yikes! 3) It helps you lose your baby weight. ~ you burn about 500 to 1000 calories a day just breastfeeding. 4) Convenience ~ once you get the hang of it. Its so much easier. No screaming hungry baby in the middle of the night while you go to the cold kitchen and heat up a bottle. Nope, just pick her or him up and stick that nipple in his mouth. Nipples also make great pacifiers for a fussy baby! You should look into getting the "Womenly Art of breastfeeding" By the La Leche League ~ its probably one of the best books out there for breastfeeding You should also look up the La Leche League in your area. Check out the links in my source area. Congrats and good luck!