Why I Breastfeed....

In honour of World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7, 2008, I decided to make a post on breastfeeding. I don't remember how old I was when I decided that I would breastfeed my children, but I can't remember ever NOT knowing I would. Maybe it was because I was breastfed, and my brother was breastfed, and I have an aunt who breastfed both her children into their toddler years. It was just NORMAL in our family to breastfeed, or at least give it a go. My education certainly solidified my resolve to breastfeed. During my behavioural neuroscience degree I took several courses in child developement and developmental psychology. Then I completed my nursing degree. I just couldn't ignore what I felt were the risks of formula feeding. Anywho, here are the reasons I breastfeed:

Formula feeding
-is expensive
-is time consuming
-is wasteful
-is less easily digested by a child's gut
-puts the child at risk from contaminents during the manufacturing process
-increases the risk of infection in the child
-increases the risk of obesity in the child
-increases the risk of the child developing allergies
-increases the risk of developing numerous illnesses in the child, including cancer
-increases the risk of ovarian and breast cancers in the mom

Breastfeeding
-is the biologic norm (human milk is designed for human babies)
-is quick and easy (even though there is often a sharp learning curve in the beginning)
-protects children from illness
-releases hormones that help the mom and child de-stress
-helps mom and baby connect with each other

And perhaps the reason to breastfeed that struck me as incredibly important, but isn't talked about enough, is the overwhelming sense of empowerment and accomplishment that you feel when you look at your baby and know that he or she is THRIVING because of you. I've felt it to some degree at numerous times throughout Jesse's life, but around about 5 months, I looked down at Jesse as he was feeding and just got so overwhelmed that I started crying. I looked at my beautiful, happy, healthy, perfect baby boy, and thought, "I DID THAT." It very much feels like an extension of pregnancy, whereby my body continues to grow my child. It amazes me.

























Sure, breastfeeding isn't always easy. I know that from experience. It was probably on Jesse's 6th day of life that I knew I was in trouble. My nipples were horribly cracked and the pain was so bad that I'd start crying when Jesse would get hungry. I had to breathe through the first few minute of each feeding as if I were in labour, just so I could relax enough for my milk to let down. I'll tell you right now that it didn't feel very "natural." But I was absolutely committed to breastfeeding. Formula wasn't an option for me, unless it became necesary for Jesse's health. So I called my public health nurse and asked her to come see us. We worked out a plan and 2 weeks later, my nipples had healed, and Jesse was nursing like a champ. There was no more pain. Just joy. Had I not had the full support of my husband and my family though, I'm not sure we would have made it through. I'd like to think we would have, but I just don't know.

Why am I sharing all this? It's not because I want to pressure people who don't want to breastfeed into breastfeeding. I've long given up the dream that every child on earth will be breastfed. I'm a bit more realistic these day. I'm sharing this because it's part of how I parent my child, it's part of my life, my identity. And maybe someone who reads this will learn something they didn't know. Maybe someone who wants to breastfeed will be encouraged to give it a go. One of these days I'd love to become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and help people overcome obstacles in their breastfeeding relationships. For the time being though, I'm going to be doing a breastfeeding course in order to become a DONA certified doula, and maybe even work towards becoming a La Leche League leader. I want to do everything I can to help those moms who DO want to breastfeed.