Breastfeeding, extended breastfeeding, tandem breastfeeding, full term breastfeedin

have raw cake and eat it

Human milk is species-specific. The milk of each mammal species has adapted to supply its offspring with what is needed for optimal growth and survival. Some species' milks are relatively high in fat to lay down a thick layer of body fat, while those with high protein use it for rapid growth and maturation. Human milk contains levels of vitamins and minerals appropriate for the healthy, full-term, human infant. It is ever-changing - from the beginning of the feeding to the end, from feeding to feeding, and from day to day. The infant provides many signals that stimulate some of the changes in his mother's milk. When following her infant's feeding cues, a mother can be assured that her child will benefit from those changes.

Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed a baby. It is possible, but difficult, for mothers to reverse a decision not to breastfeed, or to re-start breastfeeding once they have stopped, but support and perseverance will be required. Introducing partial bottle feeding will reduce a mother’s breastmilk supply. It is recommended that breastfeeding mothers follow a healthy diet. Sometimes this is difficult to achieve in the early days with a new baby, especially with older children to look after and multiple births.

Benefits for Mother

There are physical benefits of breastfeeding for the mother such as reduced rates of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The time saved for mother is also immense with no bottles to sterilise and make up. As a breastfeeding mother, you can feed your baby even during stressful times such as when normal supplies of food and water are not available. There is also the time when the baby is half asleep feeding on you to read a novel or catch up on e-mails.

Breastfeeding and Babywearing

For me, babywearing and breastfeeding have gone together and that has not just meant breastfeeding in a sling. I have found with both my babies that there have been times when the world is just too interesting to stay on the breast. I have found that a carry round for a while lulls the baby into a calm and sleepy state when he is able to focus on feeding. At other times the rocking motion of being carried while breastfeeding has helped the baby to stay attached to the breast. Being out and about with baby who wants to feed can be difficult if you need to find somewhere appropriate to sit.

BREASTFEEDING

As all parents carry their babies some of the time - I think everyone should have at least one decent carrier to use. I found ring slings great to breastfeed small babies in and Mei Tais best for an older baby or toddler, but everyone will have their own point of view about this. Being close to your baby will also help stimulate your milk supply, so if you are concerned that your supply needs a boost, it is surely worth a try. It can help you to be in tune with your baby's communications and feed on demand rather than to a schedule, which is good for stimulating and maintaining good milk supply.

Health Benefits

The most common reason mothers probably choose to breastfeed is the knowledge that human milk is the superior infant food. It contains live cells, like those in blood. Some components of human milk also enhance the effects of others, so the ingredients of human milk work together. In contrast, only a small percentage of some ingredients of formula are absorbed; mixing ingredients in formula does not guarantee they will act together the way they do in human milk.

Benefits for Baby

Breastfed babies have a decreased likelihood for allergies and dental caries. They also benefit from appropriate jaw, teeth and speech development as well as overall facial development. This means that people who were artificially fed may experience more trips to doctors and dentists.

Just as babies do, toddlers receive health benefits from breastfeeding. Your milk continues to provide immunities and vitamins, and can help protect your toddler from illness and allergies. If your toddler does get sick, nursing will help comfort him. In fact, a toddler with an upset stomach may be able to tolerate nothing but human milk.

Human Milk Has Anti-Infective Properties. Breastfeeding mothers often notice that their children are sick less often than children who aren't breastfed. Human milk provides different kinds of defense against disease, including secretory antibodies against specific pathogens. It also contains lactoferrin, which not only is the source of iron for breastfed infants, but also appears to have antibacterial and antiviral properties. Because human milk has protective qualities, infants who are not breastfed have more accident and emergency visits, hospitalizations, and treatments with antibiotics. The protective effects extend beyond weaning. Human milk offers immunological protection against many chronic diseases.

Extended Breastfeeding

Toddlers breastfeed for many of the same reasons infants breastfeed: for nutrition, comfort, security, for a way to calm down and for reassurance. Mothers breastfeed their toddlers for many of the same reasons they breastfeed their infants: they recognize their children's needs, they enjoy the closeness, they want to offer comfort, and they understand the health benefits. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend that babies be breastfed for at least two years.

Breastfeeding a toddler helps with the child's ability to mature. Although some experts say a toddler who is not weaned will have difficulty becoming independent, it's usually the fearful, clingy children that have been pushed into situations requiring too much independence too soon. A breastfeeding toddler is having his dependency needs met. The closeness and availability of the mother through breastfeeding is one of the best ways to help toddlers grow emotionally.

Breastfeeding can help a toddler understand discipline as well. Discipline is teaching a child about what is right and good, not punishment for normal toddler behavior. To help a toddler with discipline, he needs to feel good about himself and his world. Breastfeeding helps a toddler feel good about himself, because his needs are being met.

Toddlers have a huge world to explore, and breastfeeding provides them (and their mothers!) with some quiet time in their busy, waking hours.

If you would like to talk to a breastfeeding counsellor or meet other breastfeeding mothers, try contacting one of these organisations:

* The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM)

* The Breastfeeding Network (BfN)

* La Leche League GB (LLLGB)

* The Multiple Births Foundation

* The National Childbirth Trust (NCT)

Other useful organisations are:

* The Baby Cafe Charitable Trust - a growing nationwide network of drop-in centres for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

* Baby Milk Action - for information about the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and legislation to control the promotion of bottle feeding.

* Lactation Consultants of Great Britain - International Board Certified Lactation Consultants are qualified to promote and support breastfeeding in a variety of NHS and community settings, and also in private practice.