Parenting Blog

The decision of how to feed your baby is a very personal one. The benefits of breast-feeding are numerous and significant, but many women still choose not to for reasons all their own. Before you decide how to feed you child, take a few moments to study up on breastfeeding, then armed with information, making your choice should be easier.

Breastfeeding has two stages, colustrum and regular milk. Colustrum is the very first milk produced. It occurs during the first two to three days, and is a thick, whitish liquid. Colustrum is exactly what a new baby needs. It is low in fat and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies. It is also extremely easy for the newborn’s system to digest. One of the first things that the colustrum does is produce a laxative effect. It helps the baby to pass the meconium, which are thick and tarry. It also helps to clear excess bilirubin and prevent jaundice. So, if a baby is born with jaundice, the best thing is to nurse. Colustrum also carries an extremely high number of both antibodies and leukocytes (protective white cells), and helps the baby’s immature immune system fight off diseases, viruses, and bacteria. In effect, colustrum super-charges the baby’s system and helps prepare him for life outside the womb.

Breastfeeding has many advantages for both the baby and the mother. There are many substances in breast milk that can’t be found in cow’s milk. More so, there are fewer complications associated with breast milk than with cow’s milk.

It has been advertised time and again that it is best for the babies if they are breastfed for the first six months even up to two years. So why is breast milk so beneficial for the baby? First of all, only breast milk contains colostrums which are essential for the baby to take. Commercially-made milks cannot simulate the colostrums made by a mother. The colostrums contain natural antibodies and immune globulins that are responsible for keeping the baby free from illness for the first few months of its life.

Another advantage breast milk has over cow’s milk is that it allows the mother to save as cow’s milk can be expensive. The baby can better adapt to breast milk. Their feces are not smelly and they don’t have any difficulty defecating compared to cow’s milk. Breastfeeding has also been approved to be one of the family planning methods that a family can observe.

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For many years, scientists have been playing out the ingredients that make breast milk the perfect food for babies.  They’ve discovered to day over 200 close compounds to fight infection, help the immune system mature, aid in digestion, and support brain growth – nature made properties that science simply cannot copy.

The important long term benefits of breast feeding include reduced risk of asthma, allergies, obesity, and some forms of childhood cancer.  The more that scientists continue to learn, the better breast milk looks.  

In addition to making your baby healthier, breast feeding may also make him smarter.  Many studies have proved that breast fed babies tend to be smarter than babies who were fed with formula or other methods.  Breast feeding does help with nutrients and the support of brain growth, which is something every mother should think about.

The benefits for the nursing mom are just as good as they are for the baby.  The hormones that are released during breast feeding will curb blood loss post delivery and help to shrink the uterus back to its normal size.  

Colostrum

As soon as your baby is born, your body produces colostrum. Colostrum is packed with antibodies that will protect your baby from infection and disease.

In the first few days of your baby’s life, bowel movements will be dark and sticky. This is called meconium. Colostrum will help clear the meconium out of your baby’s system until it becomes loose and yellow.

Because colostrum is so rich with nutrients, your baby will nurse frequently (every one to three hours) because he only needs small amounts at each feeding. Once he grows, he will be able to nurse longer and go for longer stretches in between feedings. Nursing frequently will help you to produce more milk for your growing baby.

Latching on

Breastfeeding is a learned art. Some babies latch on from the first feeding, and others need a little more work.

An improper latch will create problems like sore, cracked or bleeding nipples. It can also prevent your baby from getting all of your breastmilk which can lead to plugged ducts or even mastitis.