Breastfeeding A World of Highs and Lows

Being a mother is a beautiful feeling. It is challenging as well as rewarding. Some days you feel like you’re on top of the world while on others you just feel everything is going out of control. It is a ‘topsy- turvy’ ride. But at the end of it you’ll be glad it happened to you.

There are certain things you will have to get used to though. You will need a lot of patience to start with. While your emotions and hormones are running haywire, you will need to take care of your baby and yourself.

Read on to know about the most beautiful experience in the world.

Why Breastfeeding is Important

For the Baby

Breast milk is Liquid Gold

Colostrum (coh-LOSS-trum) is the thick yellow first breast milk that develops during pregnancy and just after birth. This milk is very rich in nutrients and anti­bodies to protect your baby.

It is Easier to Digest

For most babies, breast milk is easier to digest than formula. The proteins in formula are made from cow’s milk, and it takes time for babies’ stomachs to adjust to digesting them.

Breast Milk Fights Diseases

The antibodies in breast milk build the baby’s immune system and helps fight diseases. This pro­tection is unique; formula cannot match the chemical makeup of human breast milk.

For the Mother

Convenience

When you breastfeed, there are no bottles and nipples to sterilize. You do not have to buy, measure, and mix formula. And there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night.

Bond with your Baby

Physical contact is important to newborns. It can help them feel more secure, warm, and comforted. The skin-to-skin contact with the newborn can boost the mother’s oxytocin levels and help improve milk flow.

Avoid Health Problems

Breastfeeding lowers the risk of the following diseases in women.

• Type 2 Diabetes
• Breast Cancer
• Ovarian Cancer
• Postpartum depression

What Fathers can do?

Fathers, partners, and other people in the mother’s sup­port system can help with breastfeeding too. Not only are there bottles to prepare, but many people feel warmth, love, and relaxation just from sitting next to a mother and baby during breastfeeding.

• Support the breastfeeding relationship by being kind and encouraging.
• Show their love and appreciation for all of the work that is put into breastfeeding.
• Be good listeners when a mother needs to talk through breastfeeding concerns.
• Make sure the mother has enough to drink and gets enough rest, help around the house, and take care of other children at home.
• Give emotional nourishment to the child through playing and cuddling.

We will talk about breast feeding this whole week through our blog and on social media. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you don’t miss on the most important things about breastfeeding that you must know. In the next blog, we will talk about breastfeeding challenges mothers face, various positions you can try to make breast feeding work for you and your baby and how to take care of your health and nutrition needs.