What is the importance of breastfeeding? What are the positives & negatives?

Answer 1

Breastfeeding protects your baby from gastrointestinal trouble, respiratory problems, and ear infections
• Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies.
• Breastfeeding may boost your child's intelligence
• Breastfeeding may protect against obesity later in life
• Breastfeeding may protect your baby from childhood leukemia
• Breastfeeding may protect your baby from developing type 1 diabetes
• Breastfeeding may protect preemies from infections and high blood pressure later in life
• Breastfeeding may lower your baby's risk of SIDS
• Breastfeeding helps you lose weight
• Breastfeeding can lower your stress levels and reduce postpartum bleeding
• Breastfeeding may reduce your risk of some types of cancer
• Breastfeeding may protect against osteoporosis later in life


http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babybreastfeed/8910.html
http://www.breastfeeding.com/

Not only that, but it is a wonderful time to spend with baby...I think it promotes a lot more closeness for mother and baby, though it is demanding! It is the best start in life: that is what our milk is made for!!

Answer 2

I loved breastfeeding! I also got tired of it after awhile because I felt like I needed a break. However, it is an awsome thing to do for you and the baby both.
It will shrink your uterus back much quicker and the bleeding doesn't last half as long as it would otherwise.
It does hurt a bit in the first week or so, but if you hold on and keep at it, it wil be quite rewarding.
It's alot cheaper than formula and you don't have to warm it up.
It's nice to know that in the middle of the night, you can just put your baby to your breast instead of getting up and making a bottle and warming it.
Your milk is specially designed for your baby and wont make him/her sick. (it can be very hard to find a formula that works)
Your milk with change just as your baby does and will have just the right stuff in it.
However, you might have to watch out for eating things that might cause you and the baby to have gas.
Your baby will suck in alot less air than it would from a bottle and thus less crying and burping for you.
Less colic
Of course there's always the BIG plus of having all those anibodies passed over to your baby through your milk.
There's just so many things in breast milk that Enfamil can't make in a lab somewhere.
Breast milk is easy to store. : )
It's worth a try!!!!!!

Answer 3

There are many positive aspects to breastfeeding. I breastfed both of my children for their first year. For myself, I found it to be fairly convenient (the milk is right there and there's no dealing with bottles and warming it, etc). I think it helped me lose the excess baby weight. I also enjoyed the bonding time. For my children, I believe it helped them to be healthier. They are 3 1/2 yrs and 5 yrs now and both have rarely been sick. They were very healthy babies. The experts say there are many other benefits for the children throughout their lives.

As far as negatives....it can be a bit of a hassle if you work and will need to pump your milk and store it for your child's caregiver. That also applies to having your mate or a family member give the baby a feeding. It can be very tiring especially when you have a baby who feeds alot (or who wants to use you as a pacifier!)

All in all, those early days pass very quickly and, for me, the benefits of breastfeeding far outweighed the negatives.

Answer 4

Positives -
Nature's most perfect nourishment for your baby.
Easier digestion for baby.
Antibodies in breastmilk help prevent many infections, including ear infections.
Bonding between mother & baby.
No need to prepare, warm and wash bottles.
Milk is always available.

Negatives -
If you have to work or leave the baby with a sitter, you have to pump your breastmilk in advance.
When the baby starts teething, they may bite you.
Finding a private place in public to nurse.
Watching what you eat or drink because it effects the baby.

I nursed my daughter for about 8 months when she lost interest in it. So I continued to pump milk until she was at least a year and then pumped less and less for a month to wean her off it. It took some effort, but it was well worth it. My daughter is 19 months and has only had one cold. We live in the far north, so that's very good.

Answer 5

The positive is that it is better for the baby and you. If you ever lose your power you don't have to worry about heating formula and it's more convenient. The only negative thing that I could think of would be for the infant who is a marathon nurser...where that is ALL they want to do. I went through that with one of mine...CRAZY time...I had to stop cause he wasn't gaining weight, but I wish that I had continued. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 6

Breastfeeding is very important. First, consider the fact that it is what is biologically normal. It's what babies are born expecting! Cow's milk (which most formulas are made from) is for baby cows. Breastmilk is for baby humans.

- Breastfeeding is relaxing for mom and baby.
- Breastfeeding is FREE and formula is expensive.
- Formula fed babies get sick more often than breastfed babies. This is because breastfed babies get antibodies through mom's milk to anything they are exposed to. This also means less doctor bills and less missed work for the parents.
- Breastfeeding mothers lose the baby weight faster than moms who feed their baby artificial baby milks. This is due to the increased calories burnt while nursing.
- Breastfeeding moms have lower rates of several kinds of cancer, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer.
- Breastfed children have lower rates of several forms of cancer. A daughter who is breastfed gets some protection against breast cancer.
- Breastmilk is easier for baby to digest than formula.
- Breastfeeding helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage in mom.
- The human immune system isn't complete until something like 6 years of age. Breastfeeding our children gives them immunities from mom to help protect them while their own immune system matures.
- Every major health organization in the world recommends nursing. The AAP suggests nursing for at least 12 months. The WHO suggests nursing for at least 2 years.
- Formula fed babies are more likely to develop allergies and asthma than their breastfed peers.
- Formula fed babies get more ear infections than breastfed babies.
- Breastmilk is always available, always ready and always the right temperature. You can never run out. It won't get recalled due to some error.
- You don't have to get out of bed to take care of baby at night. You can just roll over and nurse.
- Breastfed babies have better oral development and less tooth decay. The are less likely to require corrective orthodontia.
- Mom's return to fertility is delayed. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, your period hasn't returned and baby is less than 6 mos old, breastfeeding alone is as effective as condoms. (ALL THREE conditions must be met.) You may not get a period for several months, possibly for the entire time you nurse. (Personally, 10 mos after #1, 9.5 mos after #2 and 16 mos after #3 was born.) This also means less chances of anemia for mom and less money spent on menstrual supplies.
- Breastfed baby poop is pretty mild smelling. No where near as stinky as formula fed baby poop.

Answer 7

ok well i have two sons one who is three and the other just turned two. with the first one i was unable to breastfeed. he just would not take the nipple. with the second one i breastfeed him for a year. the good things about breastfeeding are health. my son who breastfeed was never sick and my son who did not was sick at least five times in his first year. breast feeding also helps you to lose the weight faster. the downs side of it is that you have to wean them off the nipple and it really does hurt if you do it too fast. but all in all i would say its better to breast feed then to not. we are pregnant again and im going to breast feed this one if i can .good luck.

Answer 8

PROS- your baby will grow better, sleep better, be naturally immune to things you are immune to, they smell like babies, you get to spend quality time with them while they are feeding, it helps you lose your extra pregnancy weight quickly(both pregnancies i gained 45+ lbs and was back to normal weight in 3-4 mths)

CONS- colic, food allergies, formula is expensive, they smell like formula not like babies, they miss cuddle time

what's healthier for you? a home-cooked meal or mcdonalds?

Answer 9

one positive that people don't focus on is just how enjoyable it is - your body releases these wonderful hormones when you're nursing so you are very relaxed, and harmonious and at peace. staring at your baby, staring in each other's eyes - their little feet kicking on your tummy, or arm, nursing is one of the BEST parts about having a baby!!!!!