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Breast Feeding Versus Formula Feeding Part 1


This is a topic that most mothers struggle with...Trust me, I also asked myself a lot of questions related to this topic. As a mum, your greatest joy is being able to give the best to your baby because like it not, these adorable innocent children are given to us to take care of, you get to decide what happens to them; what they eat, what they wear, what school they attend, what they become etc. It's almost like you are given a blank sheet and asked to write whatever you like to on it. 

So the fear of not making the right decisions when it comes to your kids is inevitable. But do not forget, as a human, you may make some mistakes but the most important thing is, first, learn from your mistakes. Secondly, ensure you do some research and ask the right people questions to ensure you do not make such mistakes again, and lastly, forgive yourself. Do not dwell on a mistake for too long, it keeps you trapped. 

Okay so lets move on to the topic here, Are there more benefits of Breast feeding your baby (giving breast milk) than Formula feeding them? Well, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, strongly recommend breastfeeding exclusively (no formula, juice, or water) for 6 months. And breastfeeding for up to a year at least with other foods (e.g. semi solids) from 6 months of age combined with fruits, proteins and vegetables. 

What is contained in your Breast Milk?
Well, Breast milk contains nutrients in the ideal form,  a perfect mix of vitamins, fat and protein...the complete blend of everything your baby needs to grow. It also contains Antibodies that help fight against foreign entities like viruses and bacteria. From research is was discovered that babies that are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, have fewer episodes of ear infections, diarrhea or respiratory illnesses which amounts to fewer trips to the hospitals. Breast milk is also easily digested than formula.

What you stand to benefit as a Breast feeding mother
Okay, this is from my personal experience...it may not be applicable to all other mothers. I discovered that while I breastfed my daughter, I experienced some contractions in my uterus and this helped to shrink my uterus back to what it was pre-pregnancy. Also, I lost a lot of my pregnancy weight in the first 2 months. I am not saying this happens in all cases, but this could be your experience too.

It is known for research that, breastfeeding releases the hormone called oxytocin, which helps your uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and may reduce uterine bleeding after birth. It also lowers your risk of breast and ovarian cancer. It may lower your risk of osteoporosis, too.

And finally it saves you money.

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