Breastfeeding: Simplest Way to Nourish Your Newborn

When you learn that you are expecting a new baby, one of the questions among many is whether to breast or bottle feed.   While it may seem like it should be a natural process, many women struggle to learn how to breastfeed properly.  The benefits of breastfeeding your baby far outweigh any initial inconvenience and discomfort from learning to get your baby to latch on an nurse effectively.

Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for infants.  The nutrients found in breast milk are enough to sustain your baby through the entire first year.  Sometimes called "liquid gold", the first few days your baby nurses he will also be getting "colostrum".  This thick yellow breast milk provides your baby with antibodies to protect your baby those first days.

Breast milk antibodies are also known to help protect new babies from illness, such as ear infection, stomach virus, diarrhea, respiratory infection and skin problems.  In addition, it also decreases incidences of childhood leukemia and SIDS.  While formula will also provide nutrition for your baby, it can't be replicated to be the same as human breast milk, and lacks the cells, hormones and disease fighting antibodies which fight off disease.

Babies aren't the only ones who experience benefits of breast feeding.  Aside from the special bonding with baby, the health benefits for mom include faster weight loss of pregnancy weight.  Studies also show a decrease in diabetes (type 2), breast and ovarian cancers, and Post Partum Depression.

Breastfeeding is definitely more cost-effective.  Even when factoring in the initial cost of a quality breast pump, breast feeding can save literally several thousand dollars over the year.  This will vary depending on the type of formula your baby consumes, but formula is very expensive.

It is also much more convenient to breastfeed your baby.  The food is ready on demand, at the right temperature, and already sterilized.    There's no need to wash bottles, sterilize nipples and mix the formula right.  During those late night feedings, you barely need to wake up as you nurse your baby then put her back in her bed without having to stumble through the kitchen for a bottle.

Breastfeeding is good for working moms too.  While it may take a little time to learn how to negotiate pumping while at work, mothers who breastfeed have healthier babies, and actually miss less days at work.  In addition, breastfed babies need less trips to the doctor for sick visits.

The overall emotional, health and financial benefits of breastfeeding your baby make it seem like the simple choice.  It is important to find someone who will be a strong supporter to help you become successful - those first few weeks you and baby are both learning something new.  Just keep in mind that once you have breastfeeding mastered, you can pack a much lighter diaper bag - and focus more on your baby instead of mixing and washing bottles!