The 111 Benefits of Breastfeeding—Part 4

I was fed formula when I was a baby, and I turned out just fine, if I do say so myself. My brothers and sisters were all formula fed, too, and nothing went wrong with them either.
I planned to carry on the tradition of formula feeding when I was pregnant with my first child. I figured nine months of carrying around my baby was enough of a sacrifice – I wanted my body back, and I was intimidated by the rules and horror stories I heard about breastfeeding.
My friends would tell me they couldn’t eat certain things before they breastfed their babies, and they complained about their cracked, painful nipples. I was sure breastfeeding wasn’t for me. I didn’t want to be stared at by people when I attempted to breastfeed my baby in public.
My mind was made up, until one day when I was surfing the internet, and I found the website www.notmilk.com. That’s when it hit me – my feelings didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was giving my baby the best, healthiest start I could. If you’re on the fence about breastfeeding or you’ve decided not to do it, let me share with you some of the things I learned that changed my mind.

Part 4: Long-Lasting Effects

• Autism is a challenge I’d rather not deal with, or feel responsible for. I’m sure breastfeeding isn’t the only factor in whether a child develops autism. But if breastfeeding can prevent or lower the risk, even a little, it’s worth it to me.
• I’d feel like my parenting skills were the worst if I caused her appendicitis to burst. Appendicitis is so frightening. One day your baby is fine and the next, he’s being wheeled in for surgery. If breastfeeding could possibly prevent that from happening, it would be silly not to do it.
• I have a bone to pick with not taking proven ways to increase my baby’s bone mass. Breastfeeding led to increased bone mass in certain areas of the body in this study.
• I want my baby to be able to eat what she wants someday, not be ruled by her food choices. Celiac disease can be debilitating. People have to spend an insane amount of time reading ingredients just to make sure they don’t negatively affect their own health.
• Oh, behave! Breastfed babies appear to have fewer conduct problems. A child’s conduct sets the tone for how he will behave his whole life. It’s hard to come back from being pigeonholed as having “bad” behavior by teachers, classmates and other parents.
• I’d welcome sore nipples if it meant my child wouldn’t have to prick herself several times a day. Diabetes is a burden, both emotionally and financially. Breastfed babies have a decreased risk of ending up with type 2 diabetes when they’re older.
• I’d rather my child give me an ulcer from making me worry than me give one to her by skipping breastfeeding. Helicobacter pylori infection can eventually lead to peptic ulcer disease down the road. Breastfeeding appears to lessen that risk.
• I couldn’t bear her groans if she suffered from Crohn’s. Crohn’s disease is chronic, and it causes diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain. I don’t want my baby to go through that at some point in her life simply because I didn’t think breastfeeding was important enough.
• I get the point; breastfeeding protects joints. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is no walk in the park for people who suffer from it. If breastfeeding my baby means there’s even a small chance my baby will be spared; I’ll take it.
• Can breastfeeding prevent mental health problems in adolescence? Across the country, headlines shine a spotlight on how severe mental health problems can be. Breastfeeding might protect against some mental health concerns.
• Breastfeeding can alter how soon your daughter hits menopause. Menopause doesn’t happen on a timeline. It’s anyone’s guess when it will begin, but this study links breastfeeding with later menopause.
• Two simple letters make me want to breastfeed: MS. Multiple sclerosis is an awful disease, and I pray my baby never gets it. All I can do to help make that a reality is breastfeed. Breastfed babies have a lesser chance of getting it.
• Obesity is a growing problem, but I don’t want it to be my baby’s health burden. With obesity, you carry more than extra weight. You increase your health risks and chances of public ridicule. People can be mean, and I want to protect my baby from that harsh reality. Breastfeeding might help me do that.
• I’ll risk a few bites now to help my daughter’s bite down the road. Breastfeeding can help your child’s dental health—especially overbites.
• If we’re attached at the breast now, we’ll be attached at the hip later. Years down the road, I want to be as close to my child as I am right now. Breastfeeding might help me realize that dream because, in this study, children who were breastfed were more attached to their parents.

Check back tomorrow for Part 5 of “The 111 Benefits of Breastfeeding.” Or catch up on Part 1 here, Part 2 here and Part 3 here.
From Mom Loves Best