There are many benefits of breastfeeding, but there are some benefits that just made this way of nourishing my baby a no-brainer for me. These are the reasons I chose breastfeeding in the first place.
If you are on the fence about breastfeeding, maybe these 5 benefits will help you decide to go for it.
Remember, breastfeeding is normal. It’s the norm in most of the world. Your body was made for this!
Check out these 5 benefits of breastfeeding:
image by Mothering Touch
1. Breastfeeding is free.
Breastfeeding is God’s free gift to us to be able to give our babies ALL they need–with NO cost involved! Breastfeeding definitely fits into my family’s budget!
2. Breastfeeding is healthful.
Breastfeeding gives your baby the very best start in life.
Later in this series I will delve into more of the health benefits. For now, check out the La Leche League website, which lists the many, many health benefits of breastfeeding (for both mommy and baby!).
3. Breastfeeding can potentially help you lose weight.
Breastfeeding burns an extra 200-500 calories per day! This was the only thing I needed to lose my baby weight the first time around.
But…breastfeeding does not necessarily melt off all the pounds. Five years ago I would have disagreed with you. But 5 years ago I was also two weeks postpartum and already back to my pre-pregnancy weight (which was VERY thin).
Two babies and 30 pounds later, I can say a LOT factors into whether or not breastfeeding will aid in weight loss. (And some moms actually hang onto some weight until full weaning.)
image by Mothering Touch
4. Breastfeeding is a bonding experience.
Now, I will not say that formula-fed babies cannot be bonded to their mothers. That is simply not true (and, in my opinion, a very hateful assumption).
However, breastfeeding does seem to make bonding easier because feeding our babies in general is a bonding experience, and it’s hard to delegate breastfeeding to someone else! 🙂 (Later in this series, we’ll discuss ways daddies and other care givers can get involved!)
5. Breastfeeding is restful.
If new mothers are breastfeeding, they have to take a break to nurse. It’s next to impossible to walk around the house and do chores while nursing (although it can be done–once both mommy and baby get the hang of it).
One of my favorite breastfeeding positions is lying down….it’s SO restful and bonding!
Catie
I have 2 girls and a little boy on the way and I’ve always felt strongly about breastfeeding. 🙂 Even though it’s the HARDEST THINGS I’VE EVER DONE. For the first few months, that is. After that it’s, dare I say?, a piece of cake! I always tell women if you can get through the first few months (sometimes NO SMALL TASK), you’re good to go!
My favorite benefit, other than the health benefit, is the bonding. There’s nothing in the world that can replace the connection you share between yourself and your baby. 🙂 *sigh* Writing this has me *almost* looking forward to nursing Baby #3. ;o) Kidding. Sort of.
Catie
Btw, I bought the Ultimete Homemaking ebook bundle and recently finished your ebook about Cloth Diapering and found it to be SO helpful. I wanted to try it with my other 2, but have finally built up the courage to REALLY DO IT this time! 🙂 Thanks so much! I’d love to be an affiliate on my blog for it, if you do that? 🙂
sarah
I’m currently breastfeeding #2, who is six weeks old. I am a huge proponent of breastfeeding, and overall, love the article. But, I get super frustrated with the common “breastfeeding is free” line – it’s not!! Cheap, yes. Much cheaper than formula, definitely. But not free. I have leaked horribly with both of my nursing experiences, and my biggest unplanned-for budget buster was nursing accessories. Namely, nursing pads. I go through 2-3 boxes per month (at $7-$10 per box, that adds up), and needed them at that rate until about 5 months wit my first, and then about 1 box per month until we weaned. The first time around, I bought a bunch of reusable nursing pads, in the name of frugality. I leaked through them all. Often. This time, I am trying to use the reusable ones at home (where a leak isn’t so embarrassing), but that means I need to do laundry daily to wash the 6 pairs I have, still have leaks, and still have to buy disposables to leave the house.
That also doesn’t include “optional” costs for things like a breast pump (necessary if working), bags to store pumped milk, nursing bras, nursing tanks, lanolin, etc. Fortunately, most of those are reusable with subsequent pregnancies, so my costs this time around are much cheaper than the first. Then there is the cost of lactation visits, any prescription creams, etc needed. All in all, I spent several hundred dollars the first time around on this “free” activity (more than on my cloth diaper stash!).
And off my soapbox now. 🙂 I do believe it’s worth every penny, and am thrilled that it is going really well this time around, and plan to continue as long as we are able (but also looking forward to the day when the leaking subsides!).
Jessica
http://hyenacart.com/RoseHillFarmNC/mt/5618/68158/heavy-duty-nursing-pads
I totally agree with the money thing, I’ve probably spent $300 on breast feeding since having my daughter last summer! This includes a few nursing tanks, bras, tops, pads etc. It adds up!! I bought these WAHM nursing pads and have had tremendous luck with no leaks. They are a bit bulky, especially compared to disposable but they work great. Just thought I would share!
Jessica
http://hyenacart.com/RoseHillFarmNC/mt/5618/22118/Reuseable-Cotton-velour-breast-pads
That link to the nursing pads takes you to the heavy duty but I actually just used her regular ones that are only $3/pair…more affordable but work great. Maybe the heavy duty would be better for you overnight?
Bekah @ A Moment with MOM
I have enjoyed BF my first baby so much!!! Loved reading this.
Bekah,
On behalf of –
A Moment with MOM
Adam Stewart
Exactly breast feeding is basically a boon for both mother and the child. Benefits behind breast feeding extends way beyond the basic nutrition, apart from nutrition it helps in strengthening the bond between mother and child, which is a sign of proper child development in early days of his life. From a mothers point of view breast feeding decreases the risk of breast cancer also helps women to reduce weight after pregnancy.
Kelly Edwards
I have bf 3 babies and am expecting #4 (still bfing #3 about every other day!). There are SO many great advantages to bfing, the most important to me being how there is nothing even close to being so wonderful nutritionally for the baby. I just wanted to add a kind-of random thing I read the other day (I believe it’s part of a recent study). I read that even though the mother’s bones lose density during bfing, when the mother weans the baby, her bones actually end up more dense than before she was pregnant! It specifically mentioned the hip bones, which can cause problems later in life!! Really cool!
tatyana
it was a no brainier for me, i am breastfeeding a 7 month old now, going great, its the best for her, thats my reasons for breastfeeding!!!