subject: Benefits Of Breastfeeding Your Baby [print this page] Since the very beginning of time, mothers have been breastfeeding their babies. There are certainly various benefits of breastfeeding that have been discovered. It was once a necessity but now it is a choice. All of the experts out there will tell you that this is the best way to have a healthy and happy baby. It is also a great way to boost their immune system.
Breast milk features all of the vitamins and nutrients a child needs to grow like they should. It has four main components - water, fat, protein, and sugar. There has been plenty of research that indicates children that are breastfed are less likely to have health problems in their life due to their weight. This is due to the breast milk helping their metabolism to be in balance from the very start.
* The ingredients in breast milk, including critical antibodies, contain just what your baby needs to grow and thrive.
* The closeness that develops between mother and baby during nursing is something that is amazing to experience.
* Breastfeeding is convenient in terms of having a ready supply of milk for your baby at any time at just the right temperature.
Breastfeeding isn't all sunshine and roses. Many have thought that breastfeeding is just a natural function that our baby will pick up immediately with complete success. The reason that there are so many lactation specialists is because breastfeeding is often not a natural instinct for either the baby or mother. The truth is that in the early stages, it can be difficult and challenging. Most mothers who drop out of breastfeeding and go to formula do so during the first two weeks because of the challenges of the process. Try making it through the first two weeks before giving up. Some of the challenges include:
* Milk not coming in sufficiently.
* Baby not latching
* Baby not latching correctly
* Sore nipples
* Sore breasts
* Mandatory breast pumping if you are going back to work or if you want someone else to feed the baby (critical if you need a break). This isn't necessarily "bad" however, it can be an inconvenience.
Get a qualified lactation specialist from day one. Check with your doctor, other new mothers who have had good experiences with their specialist. Get started right away and enjoy the wonderful benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby.
