Nursing is a different experience for every mother and baby, so what works for one woman may not work for the next.
That said, there are plenty of time-tested techniques for improving milk flow, clearing blocked milk ducts, and more. Read on to find out how BabyCenter moms faced, and overcame, some of the most common breastfeeding challenges.
Breastfeeding can help you build a special bond with your child. You save time, energy and money by breastfeeding. There are no bottles to wash and no formula to prepare. Breastfeeding is free. Formula is expensive. By choosing to breastfeed, you will save your family over $1,000 in the first 6 months of your baby’s life.
Breastfeeding also:
- burns calories, helping your body return to its pre-pregnancy weight more quickly
- helps your baby’s brain development and may improve IQ (intelligence quotient)
- reduces ear infections, allergies, diarrhea and constipation, and illnesses like colds and flu
- reduces your risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers
- promotes good jaw development—an advantage for proper tooth alignment
Stories from mother who breast feed
Kenya-AfricaIn my country, breastfeeding is normal. In fact, a woman who doesn't breastfeed is frowned upon. The only women who don't breastfeed are usually under strict doctors orders.
Breastfeeding in public is normal. I have been raised around this and seen many women whip out a boob in public without a cover up and no one gives a second thought to it. Breasts, especially of a nursing mother, are not regarded as sexual. My entire family has been nursed. I was breastfed by mother till I was 2 years old and my aunt breastfed her baby till she was one year old.
Japan
Breastfeeding can be done in public, and is accepted by many people in Japan. But as a courtesy to people who disagree you can ask around for private rooms to breastfeed your child. For example, department stores and airports almost always have breastfeeding rooms. Shinkansen trains also have breastfeeding rooms nowadays, but if not, the conductor can surrender his room while you breastfeed.
FranceI live in France, and I must say I never saw a woman breastfeeding in public here. I even wonder if they do at home. I lived in the US, and I remember seeing women breastfeeding, especially in public parks. I don't recall anybody watching or complaining or anything. What's the fuss all about? Breastfeeding is good for the kid, so why say it's outrageous? Here in France there are pictures of women's breasts virtually everywhere (posters, ads, magazines, subway...). We get used to it, and it gets kind of boring to see breasts. Not like in the US. So let women breastfeed and encourage them!
Texas-USA
I'll follow the best with the worst. I was in line, waiting to vote, and my son started making hungry noises. I put a blanket over us and got him latched. The people before and after me in line didn't even seem to notice, but a poll monitor did and approached me and told me I couldn't do "that" in a polling place. She told me I really couldn't vote with a baby in arms anyway and I should just go home. I nursed my son outside, in the Texas heat of 100 degrees, and then I got back in line and I voted.
After researching breastfeeding I have discovered many opportunties a baby may have. In the future I may considered breast feeding my children.
I also picked breastfeeding. The nutrients and benefits for mother and child are limitless. I feel it creates a deeper bond and promotes healthier development. I think though that breastfeeding a child to a year is the limit. Generally you wean the baby off of the bottle by then so why not the breast also? I wonder if breastfeeding past a year old has any consequences for the child....
ReplyDeleteGreat post!! I also chose breast feeding. Thanks for sharing the information on different countries because I didn't know any of this information. Wow, in Japan and France, breastfeeding can be done in public, This would be emabarrasing to me. I would use a blanket to feed my baby in public places and would be very careful that nobody would be looking. :-)
ReplyDeletePlease do consider breast feeding. I enjoyed with both my daughters and feel a special closness to each of them. I have a hard time believing that some countries are very open to the idea of breast feeding but the US is still behind in how we view the whole idea. Yeah for Japan and Kenya. The story from Texas is that about you or someone else?
ReplyDeleteI also chose to post about breastfeeding and found the differences incredible..especially in the accepting of breasfeeding in public places. It is such a varied topic, and all countries seem to have a different opinion of it...even different places within our own country.
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