Breastfeeding is possibly the most magical thing you will ever do (after growing your baby for 40 weeks!). Right before your eyes, you will see your child growing from a helpless newborn into a confident, walking, talking, competent little person who grows independently into adulthood and for the first six months, does this all on your breast milk alone.
Breastfeeding is not just a meal delivery service, it provides a platform for your baby to develop to his/her greatest physiological potential. As well as as providing the opportunity for attachment and bonding to mum (attachment to a principle caregiver is vital for normal development), breastfeeding promotes normal jaw and teeth placement (less orthodontia bills in the future!), provides your baby with an active immune system that protects them from illness (until they are able to develop their own) and avoids obesity by teaching your baby to heed their satiety controls (when they are full they stop eating, even once they are having other foods).
The physical benefits of breastfeeding are not confined to babies. By breastfeeding your baby you get a metabolic reset after the physical strains of pregnancy, labour and birth. The advantages of breastfeeding are duration related, so the longer you breastfeed (you can add up several children to get a total) the healthier you will be over the long term. The recognised gains to mothers are less breast and ovarian cancers, lowered blood pressure, less risk of osteoporosis and if you have gestational diabetes in pregnancy, your risk of developing diabetes later in life is 50% less if you breastfeed your baby.
The most important thing about breastfeeding though is about forming the sort of relationship with your baby that will take you through those teen years (when you can start to wonder which alien is inhabiting your child). The nurturing, responsive, respectful relationship you form with your baby by meeting their needs through breastfeeding easily translates into interactions that meet your child’s needs, while guiding them into adulthood.
Robin Jones is the mother of three adult children and has been a La Leche League Leader since 1983. Recently retired as a Core Midwife and DHB Antenatal Educator at Wairau Hospital in Blenheim, she strongly believes that women have a right to make their baby feeding decisions based on their own values, experiences and capabilities and supports women by providing information, education and encouragement to make whatever decisions they find works for them and their family.
Find out more at lalecheleague.org.nz
