Why breast is best!
Tags: breastfeeding, Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt 2012.
I am a really big supporter of breastfeeding and have recently completed training to be a breastfeeding buddy based at my local children’s centre. I am really looking forward to being able to help local mums with their breastfeeding problems and trying to encourage as many mums as possible to give breastfeeding a go!
Why breastfeeding is important
The list of breastfeeding advantages is extensive and even if you don’t think breastfeeding is the right solution for you & your baby, trying to give it a go for at least just the first few weeks is really important. This is because the first milk that comes through when your baby is born is called “colostrum” – otherwise known as “liquid gold” because the nutrition and protective factors that this early milk provides are just amazing.
Breastmilk is tailor-made by your body for your baby and contains all the antibodies and nutrition that he or she needs for the first six months of life. Breastfeeding helps protect your little one against all these things:
- Ear infections
- Eczema
- Chest infections
- Gastro-intestinal infections
- Type 2 diabetes & obesity
In addition to being amazing for your baby, breastfeeding is great for you too! It helps reduce your womb back to its normal size quickly, and can help with weight loss due to the calories you are busy burning while you feed! Further benefits include a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer, and the fact that it is quicker & easier than bottle feeding - especially in the middle of the night or when you are out & about!
Fast asleep after a feed!
I have been breastfeeding Georgie now for over a year and although we have started to wean her onto cows milk, I have absolutely loved my breastfeeding journey. We breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, as recommended, and then we continued with the breastfeeding on demand once we started Georgie onto solids. The bond that Georgie and I share as a result of so many hours being so close is absolutely amazing, and I actually really miss the long sleepy cuddles we used to enjoy when she was tiny!
Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt 2012
This post is part of the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt 2012. You will be able to view more great articles about breastfeeding at the following participating blogs:
- Mummy is a Gadget Geek
- Life, Love and Living with Boys
- My Gorgeous Boys
- Mummy’s Little Peeps
- Smiling Like Sunshine
I am working with Babybeads-UK for the duration of the scavenger hunt, and will be hosting a special giveaway of one of their products on the last week of the hunt! Established in 2006, Babybeads-UK manufacture and sell breastfeeding necklaces and reminder bracelets. All of their products are hand-crafted in the UK by specially trained staff and can be useful for fun and educational purposes well after the breastfeeding stages are over. Even better, they are always happy to make a bespoke necklace for no extra charge and you can even have them personalised with your baby’s name! They have also donated a breastfeeding necklace and reminder bracelet to the grand prize.
Thank you for reading! Please complete the following Rafflecopter form to enter the competition for the Keep Britain Breastfeeding Grand Prize. Want to take part and try to win loads of prizes? Read the instructions here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
22 Comments
Jane Brant
My DD is 13 months now and although we are still breastfeeding I miss those long sleeping cuddles as well.
melanie stirling
You don't have to worry about carrying bottles of milk or powder to mix when you go out for the day!
Carol
I do agree that liquid gold is invaluable for those first free days and weeks. My little one was 11weeks early and the only thing I could do for him for the first 9weeks was express. But stress and my health got quite bad and my breastmilk wasn’t enough for him so we made the responsible decision of putting him on a special high fat formula. He’s done do well on it and it has meant he can grow and I could concentrate on trying to get better myself. So I think that breastfeeding is great if you’re able to and if it is enough to help your little one, but people shouldn’t be treated like bad mums for having their babies on bottle
Zoe Corkhill
I try hard not to treat people who formula feed their babies like "bad mums" especially as you never know the reasons behind that decision – I hope I've never made you feel that way, you did an amazing job!
But… This is a pro-breastfeeding post as part of a breastfeeding campaign so it's bound to be extolling the virtues of the lovely stuff that is mummy milk!
molemum
The bond that it gives you with your baby
LifeofH
My favourite breastfeeding benefit has got to be the ease of it all; no preparation, just whip out a boob anywhere, any time and there's lunch! Does it get any better than that? I think not!
Zoe Corkhill
I know, I don't understand when people say they formula feed because it's easier! It involves so much faffng in comparision to whipping your boob out!
Lee
The health benefits for mum and baby
hannah moody
The best benefit has to be to not only my baby's health but mine too… But I also love the fact that whilst all my friend's and family are sterilising their baby's bottles and making up feeds, I'm sat watching tv and enjoying my 'me' time whilst baby sleeps
@hlac1
I think breastfeeding helps with the bonding of mum and baby
Donna McP
I love the fact that its just there when I need it, right temperature, right nutritional make up, right quantity, just right for my little man
Zoe Corkhill
I know what you mean – I can't imagine how hard it is to have to wait half an hour to make up a feed first thing in the morning when baby is crying for milk, instead of just sleepily picking up dopey baby, bringing it back to bed and latching it on!
sarah
easy and free -what could be better?
Leta
Everything!
Circus Queen - Adele
I love that it's always ready – no need to sterilise or cool.
1stof3
Anytime, anywhere!
esthermate
Its free!
@bcd2009
Its brilliant because you are not only doing the best for your child and yourself, you are also always prepared, you cant forget anything, you cant get the temperature or mixture wrong and you dont have to walk around the house when you are half-asleep to get a night feed set up.
@KellyRocks10
No sterilising bottles or having to get up in middleof night half asleep trying to make 1 and the fact i can still concentrate on doing things with my other kids aswell!
Claire Willmer
All the nutrition you provide for your little one and the health benefits for your both are priceless but i love the closeness and special time you get to spend together x
Keep Britain Breastfeeding Scavenger Hunt 2012 | Mama Geek
[...] Why breast is best! - exploring the main advantages to breastfeeding your baby. [...]
Loz B
I’m insanely unorganised (although having a baby has meant I have improved..) so the best thing about breastfeeding for me is knowing I can’t ever forget to pack her food when we go out – it’s attached!