Welcome to August, aka Breastfeeding Awareness Month! To kick off our month long celebration, we are going to be featuring blogs about breastfeeding, the benefits of it, doing it in public, and proper nutrition for breastfeeding, just to name a few. We are also doing a Karma Yoga event here at the studio on August 13th from 12:30-2:30pm in honor of this fantastic issue. I will be leading a one hour express prenatal yoga class and then the fabulous lactation consultant, Sara Newman, will be hosting a Question and Answer session about breastfeeding. We will also be having raffles, goody bags, yummy treats all in honor of BREASTFEEDING!!
Our blog series will start with the answering the question, why breastfeed?
While researching this question, I became overwhelmed with all the information and studies supporting the benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby. I decided to give basic points and then offer the link to a study or article that can go into more depth for that particular reason. Now I clearly understand why so many books are dedicated to this broad topic. It’s hard to fit all that great information into a single blog.
Here are a few great breastfeeding benefits for both mom and baby!
Breastfeeding Promotes Bonding Between Mother and Baby
Breastfeeding Helps Contract the Uterus Post Birth. When the baby is suckling at the breast, oxytocin, the same hormone responsible for contraction, is released causing the uterus to contract and help it heal and return to per-pregnancy size as well as help prevent postpartum bleeding.
Recent Studies Point to Breastfeeding as a Benefit to Future Heart Health For Baby
Breastfeeding Can Helps Stave Off Postpartum Depression
Breastfeeding helps prevent such diseases as include the prevention of gastrointestinal and respiratory illness, ear infection and immunologic disorders. In addition to improved health during infancy, breastfeeding has been found to reduce the incidence of allergy and the frequency of certain diseases later in life, including breast cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, ulcerative colitis and Crohns Disease.
Breastfeeding Helps Maternal Weight-loss
Breastfeeding Lowers the Infants Chance of High Cholesterol Later in Life
Breastfeeding Decreases Chance of Breast Cancer For the Mother
Breastfeeding Reduces Risk of High Blood Pressure, Diabetes and High Cholesterol For the Mother
Study Confirms Positive Association between Duration of Breastfeeding and Adult Intelligence
Breastfeeding Helps Fight Childhood Obesity
I also stumbled along this great article- 101 Reasons To Breastfeed Your Child.
I hope this offers you a good start into considering breastfeeding for those on the fence. Stay tune for more breastfeeding blogs through the month!
For more information on breastfeeding, please visit La Leche League International, WHO (World Health Organization) or Women’s Health.gov
