In observance of National Breastfeeding month of August (even though it's almost over)... I wanted to give you a tidbit of information about my feeding source. Did you know that by breastfeeding me, my mommy is helping reduce the risk of me getting CANCER? Yep, that's right... it helps to reduce the risk of Leukemia and Hodgkins Disease... among a million other things. It also helps reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer for my mommy. Here's a list of 101 reasons to breastfeed your children.. 101 reasons to breastfeed your baby. Unfortunately the US is severely lacking in the breastfeeding department. We are so far behind other countries with the number of babies who are breastfed. If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant I hope that you can give your child the same gift that I've gotten from my mommy. The best part about it is that it is FREE!! Give it some thought and consideration. Here are a few more little bits of interesting info for your reading pleasure:
• Formula feeding increases the mother’s risk of breast cancer
• Formula feeding increases a baby girls’ risk of developing breast cancer in later life
• Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby’s immune system
• Breastfeeding satisfies baby’s emotional needs and increases bonding between mother and baby
• Formula feeding increases mother’s risk of developing ovarian cancer
• The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it
• Breastfeeding protects against Crohn’s disease (intestinal disorder)
• Formula feeding increases risk of children developing diabetes
• Breastfeeding baby helps decrease insulin requirements in diabetic mothers
• Breastfeeding may help stabilize progress of maternal endometriosis
• Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies
• Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis
• Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections
• And on and on and on….
Okay a little bit more that was borrowed from Kristen (Villanueve Trost)... THANKS KRISTEN!
1. The world average for breastfeeding is 4.2 years.
2. The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend that babies be breastfed for at least 2 years. The American Academy of Pediatrics only recommends 1 year.
3. Only about 12% of babies in the US are exclusively breastfed (no solids or supplementation) for the first 6 months.
4. The % of babies breastfed, for any length of time, in the US is rising.
5. In the US, 39 states have laws with language specifically allowing them to breastfeed in any public or private place. Texas is one of them.
6. 21 states have laws specific to breastfeeding in the workplace. Texas is one of them.
7. 10 states exempt breastfeeding mothers from jury duty.
It's not easy in the beginning... but it's so worth it and it just gets better and better as time goes on...
4 comments:
Kouper, your mom is awesome! I can't wait to try this super power out, myself.
My Mama nursed me too and I was a roly-poly eating machine! It was way better than having to wait on a stinky old bottle!
Hello Kouper! You don't know me but I know your mom. We went to high school together. I found your blog by linking from several others from Seguin. I think it so cool that your mommy has such super power!! My kids, Cheney & Chandler, enjoyed nursing too--for a whole year...no expensive formula and no bottles to wash! YAY!! Come visit our blog sometime!!
Nursing mommies rock!!!
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