Connie can only shake her head seeing how something as natural could provoke the most curious of looks.

Connie Wilson, 24, is mother to eight-month-old Connor, and way before her baby was born, Connie made the choice to breastfeed. Connie and her husband had long planned to give their newborn the best nutrition there is and that meant feeding her with mother’s milk for the longest possible time.

“I was lucky to get a six-month break from my work as human resources head, and I took all that time with my kid,” Connie says.

One glitch however is the fact that Connie had to breastfeed her baby Connor outside their home. She had no problems with that. But apparently, many do.

For instance, when Connor was three months old, Connie went to the neighborhood hairdresser to have her hair done. While waiting, she breastfed her baby at the reception area. Out of nowhere, a man swooped over and draped a big, black rubber cape over the baby.

“At first I thought he was prepping me up for a haircut, not knowing that I was finished. Then I. realized .he wanted to protect his other patrons, most of whom were women, from the sight of nursing a baby,” Connie narrated. “Imagine my baby eating lunch under a material that doesn’t breathe. So I told the man that it’s my baby’s food. I didn’t make a big production out of it, but I managed to politely send the man away.”

MOST IMPORTANT FOOD

There is no argument that mother’s milk is the most important food in sustaining good infant nutrition. This is the reason why the health sector is trumpeting how crucial breastfeeding is in promoting not only infant nutrition, but also the long-term effects on a person’s health.

International experts in breastfeeding and fertility management also recommend LAM or Lactational Amenorrhea Method as an excellent family planning choice for couples.

Because breastfeeding stops the production of hormones necessary for ovulation and fertility in mothers, LAM is proven to be 98 percent effective in avoiding pregnancy for up to six months from the birth of the baby.

However, LAM provides natural family planning protection against pregnancy only if all the following conditions are present: the woman is fully or nearly fully breast-feeding with her baby getting at least 85 percent of his or her feedings as breast milk: her menstrual periods have not returned and her baby is less than six months old.

Baby Nursing may also have psychological benefits for the infant as well, creating early attachment between mother and child. Many psychologists believe the nursing baby enjoys a sense of security from the warmth and presence of the mother, especially when there is skin to skin contact during feeding.

Ironically, as in the case of Connie and countless others, the noble decision to breastfeed the baby does not leave the most insecure of feelings.

Parents come here from these terms:

Technorati Tags: Baby Nursing, Breast Milk is the Best baby Food, breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Baby, Breastfeeding in Public

Also Try Searching: Baby Nursing, Breast Milk is the Best baby Food, breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Baby, Breastfeeding in Public

Mother nature set it up that breastfeeding would be the best way to give your baby it’s nourishment. There are many benefits to breast milk as opposed to bottle feeding. There are over a million newborn who don’t make it, each and every year, due to being fed with formula.

The mother’s milk is designed to give your baby all it’s nutritional needs. It has ingredients that help it to resist disease. From allergies to diarrhea, and all things in between (rashes and ear infections) it’s the best possible food for your newborn baby.

When they manufacture the formula that you buy, the base milk comes from cows. It lacks in certain proteins, has others it shouldn’t, and is missing many necessary nutrients that the Mother’s milk has.

Human bodies weren’t designed to process these foreign agents, therefore those little bodies break down from trying. What their bodies can’t break down, gets stored in fat cells. So while the baby gets fatter (which is mistaken for healthiness), it also gets sick more often. It’s been noted that there are around a hundred or so essentials found in breast milk that are missing in the formula.

Babies that are breastfed are given the same antibodies that the mother has. These are essential in fighting off disease and keeping the immune system strong against the attacks of worldy germ warfare. They have a much lesser rate of things like measles, staph infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, and many other maladies. Breast milk cells are around 80% geared toward destroying fungus and fight viruses and bacteria.

Another element of the pros of breastfeeding is that, many times women who bottle feed will let someone else enjoy the experience and feed the baby. It may seem nice, and is a nice gesture, but the baby is missing out on an excellent bonding opportunity. The more a woman breastfeeds, the more she holds her baby close, and the baby is getting nourished, and a bonding takes place. This is part of nature’s plan, and it’s sad when it’s passed over.

The only negative thing to be said about breastfeeding is that your nipples may be a bit sore at first. But with regular feeding you’ll overcome this and be just fine. With irregular feedings you may get some soreness from being too full of milk, so a good regular routine is good for both you and your baby.

Within one hour of giving birth, you may be breastfeeding. However, what comes out is called ‘colostrum’. It’s loaded with antibodies to help kickstart the baby’s fight against sickness. Newborns need feeding around every two hours at first, then they’ll settle into a more lax and normal routine.

If you’re a new mother, and you are able to breastfeed, you owe it to you and your baby to do it. It has everything your baby needs to start out on the right foot to a healthy and happy life.

Parents come here from these terms:

Technorati Tags: Breast feeding is best baby food, Breast Milk, breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Baby, Breastfeeding Baby is The Best

Also Try Searching: Breast feeding is best baby food, Breast Milk, breastfeeding, Breastfeeding Baby, Breastfeeding Baby is The Best

Preparing your family for a potential disaster situation, whether it is natural or man-made, is always important. The September 11 tragedy and its implications bring this concern uncomfortably close to home. Our fears are not unfounded. Though it’s impractical to attempt preparation for every possibility, it’s a good idea to take some basic precautions in the event that our normal way of life is disrupted. One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a possible emergency situation is to breastfeed!

The term “breastfeed is best” never took on so much significance as it does in the event of an emergency. For one thing, a breastfed baby is virtually guaranteed a source of complete nourishment, even if food and water are scarce. Mothers who feed formula can stock up supplies in advance, but this is problematic. If we aren’t sure of the safety of the water supply, we must rely on bottled water or pre-mixed formula, which takes up a lot more space and is quite heavy to carry. And if we should need to evacuate our homes in a hurry, the stock becomes useless.

There is also the need to keep bottles and nipples clean, which may be very difficult, and uses up precious water that could be used for drinking. A breast fed baby’s food source is always sterile, and always available. However, you might want to pack some formula, water, and feeding supplies in your emergency kit as additional insurance.

Breastfed babies have other advantages, too. They receive antibodies through the breast milk, protecting them from many common illnesses and allergies, which is essential when medical care might not be readily available. True, breastfed babies get sick too – but who is to say how much more severe the illness might have been otherwise? If the quality of the water is suspect, the mother acts as a filter for the baby. An organism in the water that might cause an adult mild intestinal distress could be life-threatening to a baby.

Babies aren’t the only ones to benefit from breastfeeding. The act of breastfeeding generates hormones in the mother that promote a feeling of calmness, comforting her and giving her strength to deal with stress and fear. Breast milk has antibacterial properties, so it can be used as an eyewash, or in a pinch can even be used as a topical antiseptic for superficial wounds and rashes.

In a disaster, breastfeeding mothers also have an important gift for others. Consider the possibility that the supply route may be disrupted; formula might not be available. If you have a battery operated breast pump, pack extra batteries for it in your emergency kit. Supply will rise to meet the demand, and you might save the life of another baby besides your own!

Weaning a baby is almost always a one-way street; once you stop nursing, you can’t go back – at least not without a great deal of hard work. The decision to nurse your baby isn’t always a matter of convenience. In a disaster situation, it could very well be a matter of life and death for your child. And at the very least, it will certainly make coping with the situation easier and provide one less thing to worry about.

Tag:Breastfeeding And Emergency Preparation|

“If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you Subscribe to my RSS Feed.”

Technorati Tags: Breastfeeding And Emergency Preparation, Breastfeeding Baby, Breastfeeding Tips

Also Try Searching: Breastfeeding And Emergency Preparation, Breastfeeding Baby, Breastfeeding Tips