If you had a wonder drug that was safe, effective, readily accessible, engineered to your specific needs, environmentally friendly, painless, had immediate onset, offered long term protection, was free and as a bonus offered weight loss for the provider, would you use it?  We have that drug: BREASTMILK!

Six years ago, a bold paper called “Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk”, appeared in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Pediatrics, which changed the way medical society views breastfeeding.  This paper was written by eleven of the country’s top breastfeeding experts and it was a result of years of work.  The AAP has issued new guidelines emphasizing the importance of human milk in infant nutrition.

Breastfeeding is the natural, physiologic way of feeding infants.  Formulas made from cow’s milk or soybeans (most formulas on the market) are only superficially similar, and advertising which states otherwise is misleading (see a comparison table at the end of this article for more information).

Benefits of breastfeeding

This area is often not fully explored by mothers or expecting women.  There is a vast amount of benefits that come with breastfeeding, not only for the baby but also for the mother. 

Benefits to the baby

• Complete nutrition for human babies
• Easily digested and assimilated
• Encourages good facial and dental development

• Increased resistance to infection due to the immune-enhancing factors in mother’s milk
• Less likely to develop allergies
• Less likely to develop eczema and skin disorders
• Encourages the growth of good bacteria in the gastrointestinal system, therefore maintaining healthy digestive system
• Higher IQ’s
• Protects against jaundice
• Fewer digestive upsets (baby colics)
• Sleep better
• Encourages normal weight gain
• Have little or no ear infections
• Have a lower mortality rate (less likely to die of SIDS)
• Prevents against autoimmune diseases and lowers cholesterol as an adult.

Benefits to the mother

• Production of breast milk requires a lot of calories, helping in weight loss after pregnancy.  Woman’s body undergoes a lot of changes during pregnancy and one of them is putting on a few extra pounds.  Your body deliberately prepares for the high caloric demand of breastfeeding.
• Facilitates bonding between you and your child
• Reduces the incidence of breast and cervical cancer
• Reduces the incidence of osteoporosis
• Returns uterus to normal size sooner
• Breast milk is always ready, the right temperature and no hassle
• Breastfeeding promotes relaxation: the milk producing hormone, prolactin, has a relaxing effect on mother
• Prolongs the return of menses
• Breast feeding is free

Breastfeeding challenges

Insufficient milk supply

The vast majority of mothers are perfectly capable of breastfeeding, only about 2% of women cannot truly produce enough milk to nourish their babies (usually due to breast surgery or trauma).  The trick to getting sufficient milk flow is proper hydration and a good latch.  Lactating women should be drinking more water than usual (more than 8 glasses of water a day).  Proper latch is crucial to success.  A poor latch is similar to giving a baby a bottle of milk with a nipple whole, which is too small – the bottle is full of milk but the baby will not get much.  Most importantly remember that the availability of milk follows the rules of supply and demand – the more frequently you breastfeed the more milk will be produced.

There are also botanicals (herbs) that can stimulate milk production (galactogogues) such as: borage, fennel, anise, basil, cumin, red clover, alfalfa, nettles, blessed thistle, hops; however the kinds of botanicals and dosages right for you have to be established and monitored by a naturopathic doctor.

Mastitis

Mastitis is painful inflammation of breasts and it occurs when breasts are allowed to become engorged and are not adequately emptied by infant feedings.  This condition has to be treated immediately.  The best thing you can do is to continue breastfeeding minimum every 2 hours especially on the inflamed breast.  Plenty of rest and warm compresses are also helpful, however if the condition does not improve in a day or two please see your doctor.

Inverted nipples

A lot of women are under the impression that you cannot breastfeed if you have flat or inverted nipples.  It is a myth.  It is not necessary to have extending nipples to nurse successfully.  The most important tip to remember is to try to get the baby to nurse right after birth so that the baby becomes familiar or “imprints” your nipple shape.  Avoid the use of artificial nipples (including pacifiers) until nursing is well established.  Position of the baby is also very important, however in this case it is best to get practical advice from a lactation expert in your area

* whey is water soluble and easier to digest – almost 100%
casein is not easily digested by infants, the incomplete breakdown of casein results in stomach pain and infant colics.