World Breastfeeding Month 2014

August is world breastfeeding month!

 

 

I do love breastfeeding.

But I know it can be hard.

Breastfeeding is still making a comeback!
3 out of 4 mothers are continuing to breastfeed after they leave the hospital.
It is recommended to breastfeed for at least one year, but only half of mothers are still nursing at 6 months.
AAP recommends exclusively breastfeeding for at least months, but to continue nursing after solids are introduced.
 

 

I encourage all mothers to breastfeed.
There are so many benefits, for both mother and baby.

Breast milk is made uniquely and perfectly for YOUR baby.

Breast milk has 100 more ingredients beneficial to your babies development then cow's milk and formula.
Breastfed babies are less likely to be obese and have higher IQ scores.
Breastfed babies reportedly sleep better and cry much less.
Breastfed babies have higher immunities to common infections like urinary tract infections, ear infections and respiratory.
 

 

You can never overfeed a breastfed baby!

 

Not only is it beneficial for baby, it's also beneficial to you!

 

Breastfeeding helps the uterus contract and assists the body in post partum healing.
Exclusively breastfeeding can act as a natural birth control.
It boosts levels of oxytocin.
Mommies who breastfeed lower their risks of dying of heart attacks and other cancers by at least 33%.

 

 

Breast milk is also a cure all!
It can cure infections, cuts, cradle cap, burns, hemmorids, etc.
It has a high does of anti bodies.  It will fight off colds and other infections in big kids and adults.

 

Your body is amazing.
You can grow and feed a human being!



What Crunchy Moms Do

This whole "crunchy" thing, both makes me cringe and makes me laugh. 

 

The thing about being "crunchy" is it's being made into a fad.
I heard someone say "Oh I just started being crunchy."
What?

 

I think it's a thing that either you are or you aren't.
You don't just become.

 

Even as a child, I remember being grossed out about pesticides (which I didn't know where called pesticides).  I just knew when I went to eat a grape and my mom yelled not to eat it, because she didn't wash it yet, and it had chemicals on it.
What?
Why would they put chemicals on my grapes!?  And then say it's healthy?!

 

 

I also noticed, during conversation with other moms, that things I do (and I think are just normal) would get the response "Oh you're one of those hippie, crunchy moms."

 

Really?

 

So what exactly are "crunchy" things?

 

1. Natural birth/home birth
2. Co sleeping
3. Breastfeeding, especially extended breastfeeding
4. Babywearing
5. Non Vax
6. Delayed/selected vaccinations
7. Cloth diapering, cloth wipes, wipe solution
8. Kombucha & Kefir
9. Make your own kombucha & kefir
10. Make your own diapers and wipes
11. Coconut oil- for everything
12. Essential oils
13. Make your own cleaning products, sunscreen, bug spray, body scrub, coffee creamer, beauty products etc
14. Anti RIC
15. Wool dryer balls
16. Reusable bags
17. Extended Rear Facing
18. Organic food
19. Grows own food
20. Raises chickens
21. Milk, other then cow's milk (coconut, almond, goat)
22. GMO free food
23. Amber Teething Necklaces
24. Baltic Amber Necklaces for other then the baby
25. Frequently uses the term "big pharma"
26. Sewing
27. Spirulina
28. Hypno babies
29. Glass jars- tons of them, eliminating plastic
30. Unpaper towels
31. Knows at least 5 things that will increase milk supply
32. Homeschools/unschools (or has considered it)
33. Bradley Method
34. Canning
35. Lactation cookies
36. Ina May Gaskin
37. Cooks only with cast iron- or primarily

Please add on, for fun!

 

Too lazy for bottles

To be honest, I can be pretty lazy when it comes to food.

I've grown to love my crock pot and hope my kids ask for cereal in the morning.

So breastfeeding to me, was a winning choice.

It was never really a choice.  I never questioned it.  Breastfeeding was just what you did.  That's how babies eat.

So when my oldest didn't latch (and I didn't realize it- because I was just exploding milk so I thought she had to be eatting), I didn't understand and I was heartbroken.

Looking back, I gave up to easily.  But I didn't know there were resources. 

Lactation consultants and Le Leche League are big helps.

With my second and third I was able to successfully breastfeed.  Yay!  Every day was an accomplishment.

Truth is, I'm too lazy for bottles.  Getting up to make bottles, and making sure I pack enough.  

And it's expensive.  I read it costs about $2000 for one year of formula feeding.

I am too lazy, too broke for that.

Breastfeed milk is magic milk.  Really.

 

Not to mention, helps drop that post baby weight!

Plus the health benefits to baby.

And it really creates such a bond between mother and baby.

(I understand there are legitimate reasons some mothers can not.  And all mothers are good mothers no matter how they feed their babies.)