Breastfeeding Benefits to Mother and Child
March 7, 2009 by Tricia · Leave a Comment
Unsung Benefits of Breastfeeding
by: Philip J. Goscienski, M.D.
From the Stone Age until just a few generations ago, human infants’ only sustenance was mother’s milk, but modern infant formula seems to be an adequate substitute. After all, infant mortality in Western societies is at historic lows and growth patterns are normal. But is that all there is to it? Could there be other advantages to breastfeeding, both to the mother and to the infant?
Post-delivery stress discomfort.
All those hours of labor may be natural, but they are exhausting and stressful for mom. It’s not so easy on baby, either! First, that cushion of fluid suddenly vanishes in a big gush as labor begins. Then comes the big squeeze as the infant is mashed against the opening of the uterus, and through a birth canal that is so narrow that the baby’s skull elongates just to fit through. It takes a day or so before a newborn’s head gets its normal rounded shape back.
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Secrets to Working and Pumping
March 6, 2009 by Tricia · Leave a Comment
by Patty Hone
When I had my first son I hadn’t planned to go back to work. I suddenly had to return to the workforce when he was three months old. I was completely unprepared and my son went from an exclusively breastfeeding baby to a mostly formula baby within a short period of time. I learned a lot from my experience with him and was much more prepared when I had my daughter. I was able to exclusively breastfeed her and work full time. Because of what I went through, the emotions of trying to pump enough milk for the next day, I wanted to gather up all my tips and write them down for others to use.
I hope that you find these tips helpful.
Breastfeeding 101: Nursing Basics for New Moms
March 5, 2009 by Tricia · Leave a Comment
Making the choice to breastfeed your new baby is one of the most important and far-reaching decisions you will make as a new mother. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend breastfeeding as the preferred method of infant nutrition for the first year of life.
The current AAP breastfeeding policy states,”Human milk is uniquely superior for infant feeding and is species-specific; all substitute feeding options differ markedly from it.” Why?
