“Often, mothers see
breastfeeding as martyrdom to be endured for their baby's health. If they stop
early, they may feel guilty about depriving the baby of some health benefits,
but their guilt is often soothed by well-meaning people who reassure them that
‘The baby will do just as well on formula.’ Perhaps if they knew that
continuing to breastfeed is also good for their own health, some mothers might
be less likely to quit when they run into problems.” La Leche League
International
When I gave up on breastfeeding my son at just four days
old, I felt like I had failed him. I felt guilty, I felt inadequate, I felt
like I wasn’t doing what was best for him. What I didn't realize at the time
is that in giving up breastfeeding, I failed myself, as well. I didn’t do what
was best for me.
I’ve learned so much about parenting since my son, but one
of the most important areas of education for me has been breastfeeding. We all
hear about how many amazing benefits breastfeeding has for babies; but we don’t
often (or at least, not often enough, in my opinion) highlight the very many
benefits it has for mothers, as well.
Oxytocin. After
birth, putting baby to breast releases this remarkable hormone which not only
signals the breasts to release milk (let down), but also produces contractions
which help the uterus shrink back to its pre-pregnancy state. Oxytocin is also
known as a “feel good” hormone, and the more your body releases, the more
relaxed and content you feel. It’s released each time your baby latches on.
Reduces the risk of
breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer. The female body produces less estrogen
when it’s lactating, and studies suggest that less estrogen decreases the
chances of cancer occurring. Chances of breast cancer in particular can be
decreased by as much as 25 percent. The longer a mother breastfeeds, the lower
the risk of cancer.
Lower rates of
postpartum depression. Studies have shown that women who breastfeed have
lower rates of anxiety and stress.
I’d like to add that these are merely studies—I know that
every woman who breastfeeds does not avoid PPD, and in fact have known mothers who
experienced PPD
because of their negative experiences with early
breastfeeding. But I firmly believe that breastfeeding is not to blame—rather,
lack of real support, education, and the presence of
booby traps are the
culprits. This was my experience with my first born, and I’ve seen it happen to
other women as well.
Interruption of
menses. Alright, this isn’t necessarily a huge deal for everyone, but it
has been for me! I didn’t get my period until my first daughter was a year old;
my baby is almost five months old, and I’m still happily period-free. It’s said
that this is nature’s birth control, but I wouldn’t bank on that, since you can
easily get pregnant even when you’re not menstruating.
Burn, baby, burn. Breastfeeding
on demand can burn as many as 500 calories a day! It’s been shown that
breastfeeding mothers tend to return to their pre-pregnancy weight more easily.
I mention the above cautiously, because this is not the case
for everyone. In fact, the body tends to hold on to a few extra pounds (to keep
up milk production) while breastfeeding, and based on how much weight you
gained during pregnancy, your body type, etc., you may not reach your
pre-pregnancy weight for some time (if at all). And there is absolutely nothing
wrong with that. Rigid dieting during breastfeeding not only runs the risk of
interfering with your milk supply, it’s unhealthy for you, as your body will
take what it needs to nourish your baby and leave you with little else.
That said, though I don’t believe that weight loss should be
motivation to breastfeed, it’s an awesome side effect if it works out for you
(and if it doesn’t, just look at the list above! There are still so many
amazing benefits!).
Other benefits include lowered
risk of osteoporosis, lowered risk of type 2 diabetes, lowered risk of
cardiovascular disease, and lowered
risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Lastly, breastfeeding
is free. I’ve done it both ways, and even with the purchase of breast pads,
a breast pump, some pump accessories, and a few bottles, I have spent close to
nothing breastfeeding my daughters, compared to the hundreds of dollars I spent
formula feeding my son—and we switched to cow’s milk when he turned one.
Continuing on with “toddler” formula doubles, even triples the cost, depending
on how long the formula is used.
I believe that if this information were made more readily
available to pregnant mothers, they would be twice as likely to breastfeed—or
at least stick with it when it gets a bit hard. After nine months of pregnancy
and a difficult birth, I felt like I had given so much to my son, and I couldn’t
give any more. I was so tired, and I was so stressed. Even though I knew I
could do better than formula for him, had I been aware of how good
breastfeeding was for me, it would
have given me the motivation to keep going.
When you’re in over your head with a new baby, losing sleep,
grappling with new emotions, a new body, and a completely different life, it
can indeed feel like martyrdom to continue breastfeeding your baby. If every
woman had this information at her fingertips, maybe she would feel empowered
and supported to keep on going.
I am the proof. Though much of my confidence has come from
the wisdom of having more than one child, most of my peace and contentment has
come from the way I parent; from the things I’ve done differently, and better. Breastfeeding is at the top of the list.
Breast is best. For babes, and for
moms.
