These are my kind of mommies...

Yesterday my husband and I went to our first La Leche League Conference... They had four sessions, a silent auction, raffle gift baskets, a bookstore, and vendors. I registered hoping that we would learn a little about the world of breastfeeding and figured anything extra would be a nice bonus. I was pleasantly surprised my husband wanted to accompany me, and he even registered for a Daddy-focused workshop, "Softness with Whiskers." I selected Breastfeeding in the First Three Months, Avoiding Breastfeeding Challenges, 9 Stages of Skin to Skin, and Nighttime Parenting. I don't want to reflect on them all in one post, so I'll devote this blog to breastfeeding.


The breastfeeding workshops were informative and helpful as well as encouraging... as I learn more about breastfeeding my confidence and commitment to this little girl both grow stronger. I also feel a bit of an ego trip, I am woman, watch me make milk! I think it's pretty fabulous that not only can I grow a human, but I can make everything she needs to grow and thrive, by simply eating healthy and staying hydrated. I think it's amazing that as she grows and changes, my milk will grow and change. Even though we are no longer sharing the same blood supply, I give her all she needs, nifty! Here are some great facts about breastfeeding and breastmilk that I think are deserving of blog space: 


Fact: No baby is allergic to their mom's milk. Back in the 80s my mom was told this when my sister got sick in her first days of life. We now know that babies can be allergic to something in mom's DIET, but never her milk, it makes sense- why would your body grow a human it can't feed. The most common reason for babies' reaction to breastmilk is cow proteins that aren't always easily digested, these don't always mix well with a newborn digestive tract


Fact: Breastfeeding reduces a woman's risk of breast, cervical, uterine and ovarian cancers. Cool bonus! Further, here's a quote from April 2010 Scientific American Magazine...  In fact, not breastfeeding after giving birth seems to put women at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and many other serious health conditions. The mechanisms behind these increased risks are still being sorted out, but researchers think that by not engaging in the process that the body prepares for during pregnancy, many crucial systems can go out of whack. And the effects can last for decades after children are weaned.  

"The normal physiology is breastfeeding after pregnancy," says Alison Stuebe, an assistant professor in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, who describes breastfeeding as the fourth trimester of pregnancy. When women cannot or choose not to breastfeed, "there are myriad consequences, and we're just figuring them out," she says

Fact: Adults who were breastfed as babies often have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and type-2 diabetes. There is evidence that people who were breastfed perform better in intelligence tests. So my kids will be more intelligent AND healthier. Even better!


Fact: Breastfed babies have lower rates of obesity and weight problems later in life. There are three possible explanations for an association between breastfeeding and reduced risk of obesity at an older age. Breastfed infants may self-regulate their intake; breastfed infants have lower plasma insulin levels, which stimulates greater adipose tissue deposition; and breastfed infants have an increased level of leptin, a protein hormone in human milk. Leptin is thought to be a key regulator of appetite and body fatness. In reviewing 11 studies, 8 showed a lower risk of obesity in children who had been breastfed Dewey, K.G. Is breastfeeding protective against child obesity? J Human Lact 2003; 19 (1) 9-18.


Fact: Children who were breastfed have less incidence of asthma, allergies, eczema, and ear infections. La Leche League also states that breastfeeding also has a protective effect against juvenile diabetes, celiac disease, childhood cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, urinary tract infections, multiple sclerosis, liver disease, and acute appendicitis. 


Fact: Breastfeeding saves EVERYONE money. Just counting the improved health outcomes for the infants alone, the U.S. could save about $13 billion each year on medical costs if 90 percent of women nursed their infants exclusively for the first six months, according to an analysis by led by Melissa Bartick of the Department of Medicine at Cambridge Health Alliance and Harvard Medical School, published March 2010 in the journal Pediatrics.


Fact: Breastfeeding makes vaccines more efficient: Breastfeeding increases the effectiveness of immunizations, increasing the protection against polio, tetanus, and diptheria vaccines.


Fact: Breastfeeding is great for baby's oral health: The activity of sucking at the breast enhances development of baby’s oral muscles, facial bones, and aids in optimal dental development. Additionally, the regular act of feeding at the breast reduces baby's risk of TMJ, as the jaw forms properly.




If you have a cool fact about breastfeeding, please comment below, I'd love to add more to the list!