View Full Version : All the many and varied benefits of breastfeeding
I have read a few articles etc on the benefits of breastfeeding, but I do keep being amazed by benefits I never knew existed.
Can people add any benefits of breastfeeding that they are aware of, I'd love to try to compile as comprehensive a list as possible
*Breastfeeding protects against Crohns disease.
*Baby's suckling helps prevent PPH in the mother
*Breastmilk is free!
:)
cheezelkat
06-11-2006, 07:35
*Delayed return of AF after birth in a lot of women
*Can help weight loss
*The best comforting tool for bub - and it can't be lost
Well I didn't know that it protected the baby for years after you stop, until the other day.
So that's pretty cool.
Up to seven years for some things. Holy chowmoley.
*Breastfeeding facilitates correct jaw and dental development.
*Breastfeeding provides the infant with its first experiences of bliss and ecstacy-the foundation for developing positive mental health.
You can take it anywhere with you without having to mix, sterilise, reheat, remember to pack, worry if you get stuck out for an unexpected reason and forgot to pack an extra bottle just in case!!
(I am a very forgetful person you see - so that fact that breastmilk comes everywhere with me is VERY good!!) :yes:
Rainbowbrite
06-11-2006, 07:48
*Its a cure-all. Great for yucky eyes, ears, nose, cuts, scratches, nappy rash, pimples...........etc
*It never runs out, never too hot, too cold etc.
Funkychicken
06-11-2006, 14:42
Never was it more clear to me that breastmilk is so perfect than over the last couple of weeks. Hamish is now 10 months and has been 'eating' food for about 5 months but went 5 1/2 days last week with no solid food because he was so sick with a gastro bug and a chest infection. He fed from me around the clock for about 7 days, sometimes big feeds and sometimes little suckles but throughout it all he never once lost any of his sucking ability and he seems, by looking at him, to be not a lot different in the weight dept. It occurred to me at one point that if he wasn't BF he probably wouldn't be keeping any cow-based formula down and could well possibly have ended up in hospital for fluids-our GP was watching him closely but never felt he was dehydrated at any point and credited this to my BFing him. The good news is he has recovered and is back eating again but has a renewed love affair with co-sleeping and my boobies! :D
ShadyCharacter
06-11-2006, 14:47
It is the only thing your two year old will eat or drink when he knocks his front tooth out ;)
Rainbowbrite
06-11-2006, 14:49
The good news is he has recovered and is back eating again but has a renewed love affair with co-sleeping and my boobies! :D
Great to hear he's back to normal :hugs: Gotta love those night time cuddles :hugs:
Great excuse to leave the room when annoying relatives are visiting ... :D
the_queen
06-11-2006, 16:49
:laughing: @ Beany... :D
* Reduces the risk of breast and cervical cancer
* Provides an immunity boost to a newborn
* The poo's don't smell bad.
sam's mum
06-11-2006, 19:42
My granny always told me that the right time to breastfeed was when everyone started to do the dishes!!
So breastfeeding gets you out of doing the dishes. :laughing:
It also helps you to lose weight after having the baby.
It is quick and easy in the middle of the night.
It adjusts for the weather - watery in summer and thicker in winter.
Gotta love the boobies:yes:
Rileys been sick a few times this year-ear infections etc and when he went off solids-he never went off the boob.I always think "i wonder what i would do without the boob?"
I have friends with FF bubs and when they get sick they usually end up in hospy on a drip!Thank god that never happened to Riley!
something in breastmilk actually helps prevent tooth decay.:detective:
lessens the risk of juvenile diabetes
lessens the risk of oesteoporosis,and breast and ovarian cancers for mum too!:smiliedance:
mama anne
06-11-2006, 21:38
when bubby is crying down the house and stressing mummy out ..... how can you deny the bond when you're feeding them and they look up at you with their big eyes that say "you're the best mum and i love you millions and millions"?
okay i know its corny but it was true for us half an hour ago :D
the_queen
06-11-2006, 21:48
Oh I thought of another one after today's fiasco:
It's extremely obvious when bubby's first tooth is coming through.... :p
But seriously....
No need for extra water in summertime, as foremilk becomes more watery to keep bubby hydrated.
something in breastmilk actually helps prevent tooth decay.:detective:
Really?coz I heard that BF bubs to sleep can make their teeth rot?!?
I dont know if its true or not-I hope not coz I ALWAYS feed Riley to sleep
cheezelkat
06-11-2006, 22:09
No need for extra water in summertime, as foremilk becomes more watery to keep bubby hydrated.
Wow! That is awesome. My mum is always nagging him to give him water but he never seems thirsty, so I don't - just extra breastfeeds.
the_queen
06-11-2006, 22:13
Wow! That is awesome. My mum is always nagging him to give him water but he never seems thirsty, so I don't - just extra breastfeeds.
Yup :D if it's hot weather, it's mum that needs to drink extra water.
Funkychicken
06-11-2006, 22:16
Really?coz I heard that BF bubs to sleep can make their teeth rot?!?
I dont know if its true or not-I hope not coz I ALWAYS feed Riley to sleep
The sugar content in breast milk is the reason why this can happen on occasion but falling asleep with a teat that is coated in cows milk will be a sure fire way to rot teeth.
And for the record, I fed my DS#1 to sleep at every nap time and bed time for 12 months and his teeth are perfect-100% clean bill of dental health at every check-up!
SassyMummy
07-11-2006, 01:02
I'm not a breastfeeder, and I regret that I quit so early (fully breastfed until 3 weeks old, then slowly weaned to bottle until 9 weeks).
At the time, I didn't think the whole "bonding" thing you get when you BF was a REAL thing (I just thought it was a crock), but looking back, I really miss it. I think that's one of the biggest deals for me - the fact that I missed out that type of bonding with DD... I still bonded with her, but I bottlefeeding has never brought me that kind of closeness (IMO, bottlefeeding is NOTHING like breastfeeding in terms of bonding...especially when your bubs holds the bottle for herself).
Ashleigh<3
07-11-2006, 06:22
Aren't we encouraged to breastfeed our babies till they fall asleep?:confused:
I remember whilst learning the basics, as bubs gets to creamy part of your milk, which depends on how fast they get the watery part of the milk down. It really starts to fill them up so they obviously are going to start falling asleep.
when bubby is crying down the house and stressing mummy out ..... how can you deny the bond when you're feeding them and they look up at you with their big eyes that say "you're the best mum and i love you millions and millions"?
okay i know its corny but it was true for us half an hour ago :D
I love the moments like this.
Babies really don't become too distraught if they're in your arms or know you're near and they're crying.
Usually it takes me a bit of time to prop up some pillows to get comfy, (I've just started BF'ing) So when I see her balling her eyes out, and she looks at me and says, "please Mum! Can you PLEASE FEED ME NOW" I try to hurry just to see that look of satisfation on her face. And yes, when those tears roll down her cheeks as she feeds away... Awwwww.....:o :)
Let's not forget watching baby grow those little fat rolls, or putting bubs on the scale every week and thinking "THAT WAS ME!"
Re: Rotting teeth - any sugary liquid not swallowed will do this. Giving bubs a bottle in their cot (for them to suck to sleep, either witht hem holding it or propped up on a towel GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR) will be more damaging I think.
I love the smiles that I get, or the milk moustache when my flow is too fast for him. I love that now he feels so secure in his knowledge that mum and the boosies will always be there, so he can have a look around.
I love all sorts of things!
I believe the current thinking on tooth decay is that bm by itself in the mouth can actually retard cavities, but if it is a mixture of bm and solids, that is when you can get problems.
I just read today the benefits for mum..
decreased breast cancer risk!! :smiliedance: :smiliedance: :smiliedance:
When all else fails, in the middle of the night.....a breastfeed will always put my daughter back to sleep.:)
OK OK what I love the most(coz Im selfish)is that you can BF in your sleep!!!!!
DF said the other night he came to bed and I was passed out,spread eagle over the bed and so was Riley.He picked him up to move him over and Riley started fossicking for boob,moving his mouth round frantically till he found the boob and latched on.All this while I was sleeping and didint even notice LOL
Also I love the bonding.I love when Riley looks up at me and starts cracking up while he has the boob in:laughing: The other day he was gulping away,got a mouth full of milk and raspberried it all back in my face.NOICE!!!:rolleyes: :p
sam's mum
07-11-2006, 22:33
OK OK what I love the most(coz Im selfish)is that you can BF in your sleep!!!!!
:yes: I don't know how many mornings I have woken up with my boob hanging because the little tick has fed until they dropped off (long after I went to sleep).
:yes: I don't know how many mornings I have woken up with my boob hanging because the little tick has fed until they dropped off (long after I went to sleep).
LOL same!I always seem to wake up with one boob hanging out!Its so cool how you can just sleep while they nurse!so handy!
sam's mum
07-11-2006, 22:37
I got freaked one night when he re attached. I can remember being asleep and something grabbing my boob, I pushed it off and woke up, realised it was Sam and let him back on. :rolleyes: silly mummy :laughing:
I got freaked one night when he re attached. I can remember being asleep and something grabbing my boob, I pushed it off and woke up, realised it was Sam and let him back on. :rolleyes: silly mummy :laughing:
LOL thats funny!!I love how they can find the boob even in the dark,good old natural instinct!
LOL same!I always seem to wake up with one boob hanging out!Its so cool how you can just sleep while they nurse!so handy!
When Cobey does his 5 am wake up, I take him into bed with me...
sometimes the only reason that I know he's been fed is because my top's up and there's a puddle of milk next to one content baby. Sometimes I don't even know how my top got pulled up...
DellaWellaWoman
08-11-2006, 13:14
When Cobey does his 5 am wake up, I take him into bed with me...
sometimes the only reason that I know he's been fed is because my top's up and there's a puddle of milk next to one content baby. Sometimes I don't even know how my top got pulled up...
I can't wait for Brylee to be able to "get her own" - as it is now even if I have her in bed with me I have to be awake enough to help her attach (and change sides which really involves being more awake than asleep).
B/f's definitely the most convenient thing tho - especially when we're out for the day - I just flop a boobie out wherever I am and I have a very happy baby!! No rushing off to a parents room to heat formula, etc.
Breastmilk acts like a natural 'tranquiliser' for baby.
Breastmilk has never been recalled due to manufacturing problems!:laughing:
Funkychicken
11-11-2006, 21:21
When Cobey does his 5 am wake up, I take him into bed with me...
sometimes the only reason that I know he's been fed is because my top's up and there's a puddle of milk next to one content baby. Sometimes I don't even know how my top got pulled up...
I love your post here, Seekrit! That is just such a true and natural statement. Go boobies!!!:smiliedance:
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