Breastfeeding Awareness

*I apologize, my spell check is dead. Excuses the typos*

August 1-7 is Breastfeeding Awareness week. So, of course, I have to have [another] Breast-feeding post!

I don't even remember what we were talking about, but last week I mentioned "Breastfeeding Awareness" to my dear husband and he said to me, "What?! How can people be 'aware' of breastfeeding?! Everyone knows it exisits." Haha. . . oh, the words of a man.

Obviously, we're not talking about letting the world know about Breastfeeding. Although it's nothing new to society, and infact has been around since. . . well, forever. . . it's amazing -- no -- shocking - astounding - inconceivable - how little people actually KNOW about Breastfeeding. You know me, of course I went on to elaborate (probalby more than he would've liked) about how more women need support, how most of the general public doesn't understand all of the benefits of breastfeeding, how awareness means so much more than just spreading the word "Hey ya'll, breastfeed your kids!!"

Here are a few of my favorite things I think people should know about Breastfeeding:

1. It is the preferred and reccomending way of feeding infants from the Amarican Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, World Health Organization, UNICEF and many others well-recognized Organizations.

2. Breastmilk is easier to digest than formula. It is cheaper (MUCH) than formula. It contains antibodies that formula is missing and comes in a much nicer package.

3. Breastfeeding is good for mom, too. It shirnks mother's uterus after childbirth, promotes weight loss, decreases the risk for breast, ovarian, endometrial, and many other cancers.

4. Breastfed babies have higher I.Q.'s Seriously, look it up. Scientific fact. They also have great skin, better speech development, less spit-up and not-so-stinky poo. And they never have to be put on laxatives b/c formula is making them poop rocks.

5. Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotions needs and increases bonding between mother and baby. This is an indescribable thing. Breastfeeding forces you to take the time to relax, hold your baby, stare into their eyes, focus entirely on them and really truely connect. Nothing is more powerful than the power of touch; being held; being loved.

6. Breast milk provides perfect infant nutrition. In fact, a pre-term infant will even receive milk specially designed for premature babies. Breastmilk also always contains the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, changing as the needs of the child changes. No formula can do that. Our boobs are THAT GOOD.

7. Breastfed babiesare less likely to develop diabetes, obesity, allergies, asthma, ear infections, diarrheal infections, bacterial meningitis, respiratory infections, childhood cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, Hodgkins. . . etc, etc. The list goes on and on. Basically, Breastfed babies are just healthier! Which means frewer doctor visits and saving even more money!

8. Formula costs the government (and taxpayers) millions of dollars. The US government spends more than 2.5 million dollars a year to provide formula to children of non-breastfeeding mothers participating in the WIC suppliemental food program. Not to mention the costs of caring for those infants who are statistically much more likely to get sick. According the the AAP, higher breastfeeding rates could save US health care around $3.6 billion a year!

9. Breastfeeding is easier. It's always the right temperature. It's always available. It's always free of bacteria and you never have to worry about the water supply. And you also never have to worry about the latest ingredient discovered to be missing from formula (or in the recent case, added too)

10. Breastfeeding is a natural pain reliever for baby. Breastmilk contains endorphins to suppress pain and is a instant soother. Also, for sick children, human milk is the perfect remedy. For gastrointestional ailments it's naturally soothing to the intestine (no need for artifical and expensive electrolye solutions) and for respiratory illness, breastmilk not only contains antibodies but also doesn't have the components to cause excess mucous formation like formula does.

There ya go. Hope you are all Breastfed-Aware Now :)