Breastfeeding is something that has been a part of life for millions of years. It is a carefully calibrated evolutionary adaptation designed to help our young grow up big and strong. But on a practical level, it can be a challenge for some mothers. What’s more, with COVID-19 currently rampaging across the country, modern mothers now have a host of new considerations.
In this post, we’re going to take a look at what they don’t tell you about breastfeeding. By the end of it, you should have a more realistic picture of what to expect.
Breast Milk Is The Healthiest Food For Your Baby
Evolution has been working for millions of years to make sure that babies get the most nutritious food possible. Breast milk, therefore, is not only a complete food for your child but the perfect mix of fats, proteins, and carbs for their developing bodies. Research suggests that breastfed children wind up with better health outcomes long term.
Mothers Can Pass COVID-19 To Their Children Via Breast Milk
Since January, scientists have known that people can pass COVID-19 to each other via their sputum and feces. Now, though, there is evidence that it can be passed via breastmilk from mother to child.
Fortunately, children appear to have a natural resilience to the disease. With that said, mothers need to be careful. Some children have gone on to develop a syndrome associated with COVID-19 infection, and scientists aren’t sure what it is.
Breastfeeding Saves You Money
Buying lots of formula for your child is expensive. But when you feed them from your own breast, you wind up saving a lot of money, especially if you keep it up for a long time. Some mothers breastfeed for a year or more, providing plenty of time for all the pennies to stack up.
Many Mothers Pump
Many mothers can experience swollen, engorged breasts during breastfeeding. The body senses that you have a baby and suddenly begins producing milk over time. If your baby doesn’t want to feel, it can lead to swelling, which can become painful.
For that reason, many mothers choose to pump. It is an excellent way of relieving pressure in the breast while providing the child with a ready-to-go supply of milk from a bottle.
Breastfeeding Will End
When you have a newborn, it feels like you will have to breastfeed forever, but that’s not true. Eventually, it will end, and your child will move onto solid food. You once again become the owner of your breasts,
Breastfeeding Could Make Your Healthier
Researchers believe that breastfeeding could make women healthier by warding off the risk of breast and ovarian cancer. When you breastfeed, you reduce the amount of pro-cancer hormones circulating around your body. Over the long-term, this reduction can cut your odds of getting seriously sick.
Furthermore, you may also benefit from feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin – helping to improve your overall physical and mental health.
Breastfeeding, therefore, is a complex activity with many aspects. There is so much you can learn about it.
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