04/20/2023
I was thinking this morning about how I have been a nursing mom for over five and a half years. I have had about 40 days of no nursing during this time. That is almost 2000 days. I have nursed both of my boys throughout pregnancy and over the age of two. And now our sweet girl is approaching one (wow!) and still going strong.
I have been extremely fortunate in my experience. Yes, I have encountered issues, but through everything, my babies have been able to continue to nurse. For the mama's that have struggled, have had to supplement, or have chosen not to breastfeed, I see you! I support you! And you are a rockstar! I am simply sharing my experience as a nursing mother.
So what are the benefits of nursing?
There are so many! I'll go over FIVE!
1. Breastfeeding can protect baby from short and long term illnesses
💛 This includes lowering their risk for things like athsma, type 1 diabetes and ear infections
2. Breastfeeding can protect the mother from illnesses too!
💛 This includes things like lowering your risk for breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer and high blood pressure!
3. Your milk ADAPTS as your baby grows to meet their specific nutritional needs!
💛 From colostrum at birth to mature milk, it is constantly changing! Your baby's saliva actually tells your body what is needed! Crazy right??!
4. You don't have to run to the store for it!
💛 While this may not be true for all nursing families, in general, breastfeeding is more accessible than formula. Obviously things like pumping supplies, bottles, donor milk etc. you may not have readily available. But when you are feeding straight from the tap, it can sometimes be as fast and easy as lifting your shirt.
5. Brain development
💛 Did you know that breastfed babies have been proven to have a higher IQ by about 3 points? Crazy right? Just the parent-baby interaction that is done through the physical touch of nursing your baby has been proven to help their brain development. Then there are the benefits of the milk along with that!
"Mother-to- child touch and nurturing interactions during breastfeeding play an important role in strengthening a child's sensory and emotional circuitry, both of which are important for cognitive and social-emotional development."
https://www.astho.org/globalassets/brief/breastfeeding-for-healthy-early-brain-development.pdf
There are so many more benefits to breastfeeding from the first few days to one year and beyond! No amount of time is too short not see some kind of benefit!
https://lactationnetwork.com/blog/the-benefits-of-breastfeeding-a-timeline-for-the-ages/
I'd LOVE to hear about how your own journey with breastfeeding is going! It is beautiful, frustrating, exhausting, fulfilling and sooooo many other things! Just know, wherever you are in your journey, you are not alone!
📸 Shelby Springer Birth Doula & Photography Services
