During
the breast feeding you will be calm and more relax. Your brain will
produce
chemicals that will calm you, give you a feeling of well-being and
promote
maternal behavior. Your baby's sucking stimulates nerve endings in the
areolae, which send messages to hypothalamus and pituitary gland (in
your
brain), causing them to start releasing two breast feeding hormones;
oxytocin
and prolactin, that will begin to calm and relax you.
Breast
Feeding
Breast milk is
the best choice
for your baby. Aside from promoting maternal infant bonding, better
mouth
and jaw development, breast fed infants have stronger immune systems
than
bottle fed babies because breast milk contains antibodies created in
the
mother's system and passed through breast milk into the baby's system,
offering temporary protection against common infections, including
intestinal
and ear infections. Breast feeding also reduces the incidence of food
allergies
in later life, as well as many other health benefits for both, your
baby
and you. Find
out more...
Don't
forget to take care of yourself:
Get plenty of rest and drink at least eight (8 oz) glasses
of water,
milk
or juice a day at periodic intervals.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine, both of which can dehydrate you.
Excessive
caffeine consumption by the mother can also cause irritability,
sleeplessness,
nervousness and increased feeding in the breastfed infant. Moderate use
(one to two cups per day) usually produces no effect.
Nursing uses up extra calories, and most mothers find
that they
lose
weight faster (without special dieting) than formula feeding moms.
Did
you know?
Breast
milk consumption
has been linked to a decreased risk for several infant conditions
including
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The
sucking technique required
of the infant encourages the proper development of both the teeth and
other
speech organs.
Frequent
and exclusive breastfeeding
delays the return of menstruation and fertility (this is known as
lactational
amenorrhea) allowing for improved iron stores and the possibility of
natural
child spacing.
Breastfeeding
mothers experience
improved bone re-mineralization postpartum, and a reduced risk for both
ovarian and pre-menopausal breast cancer.
Breastfeeding
can also allow
the mother to return to her pre-pregnant weight as the fat stores
accumulated
during pregnancy are utilized in milk production.
Our
pages are created to provide medically accurate information that is
intended
to complement, not replace or substitute in any way the services of
your
physician.
Any
application of the recommendations set forth in the following pages is
at the reader's discretion and sole risk. Before undergoing medical
treatment,
you should consult with your doctor, who can best assess your
individual
needs, symptoms and treatment.
Get plenty of rest and drink at least eight (8 oz) glasses
of water,
milk
or juice a day at periodic intervals.