The Importance and Benefits Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and beneficial acts a mother can do for her child.  Striking health benefits have been proven to pass from mother to child through breast milk.  For example, antibodies, which protect an infant at birth and the nutrients in mother's milk, have been shown to prevent a number of childhood diseases.

Other Health Benefits to Babies Who Breastfeed include:

ü  Children have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)

ü  Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis

ü  Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets

ü  Reduced risk of childhood diabetes

ü  Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning)

ü  Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.

Health Benefits to Moms Who Breastfeed

ü  Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers

ü  Reduced risk of anemia

ü  Protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in life

ü  Reduced risk of mortality for women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with total time of lactation

ü  Helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss...1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores... can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day.

ü  Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies

ü  Develops a special emotional relationship and bonding with her child

Breastfeeding also reduces the cost of healthcare by promoting healthier children and mothers..........If all WIC babies in the U.S. were breastfed, our economical savings would be $33,000,000 per month ..........In 1993, 90,000 babies were hospitalized for RSV at a cost of 450 million dollars. Currently, the U.S. spends over 1 billion dollars a year on Otitis Media (ear infections)
Information gathered from: http://www.motheringfromtheheart.com/Benefits.htm

www.womenshealth.gov, points out that "Fathers, partners, and other people in the mother’s support system can benefit from breastfeeding, too. Not only are there no bottles to prepare, but many people feel warmth, love, and relaxation just from sitting next to a mother and baby during breastfeeding" (online 3/10/11).
Breastfeeding is universal. None of us would be here without our mothers before us had not breastfeed.

Breastfeeding in Cuba

Cuba's constitution has contained a provision officially recognizing and supporting breastfeeding. Article 68 of the 1975 constitution reads, in part: During the six weeks immediately preceding childbirth and the six weeks following, a woman shall enjoy obligatory vacation from work on pay at the same rate, retaining her employment and all the rights pertaining to such employment and to her labour contract. During the nursing period, two extraordinary daily rest periods of a half hour each shall be allowed her to feed her child.

What it means to Me:

I think breastfeeding is beneficial to the child and the mother and needs to be supported. From personal experiences, I have seen how negative remarks and banter can hurt a new mother and make her question whether or not she is doing the right thing.  My mother-in-law thought it was preposterous that I breastfed my children and was always making remarks, such as "I don't think you are producing enough milk" or I don't think it's fair to breastfeed because you are leaving the dad out and you are always with the baby". She did not breastfeed her children and she was not educated to the benefits of breastfeeding.