World Breastfeeding Week (August 1-August 7)

There are so many benefits for you, your baby, and your pockets if you choose to breastfeed your baby. For the mom, breastfeeding is linked to decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers, diabetes, and postpartum depression. For the baby, they gain an increased immune system, less risk for allergies and skin issues, less chance of SIDS, and improved digestion. If these aren’t enough reasons to give it a try, breastfeeding can save your pockets up to $4,000 a year. It is recommended to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of the baby’s life.

With all these benefits, why does it seem like breastfeeding is occurring less over the years? Long gone are the days where women stayed at home and solely cared for their kids. There are more working moms and busy schedules to keep up with, especially if there is more than one kid or only one parent in the household.

Unfortunately, with these revolutionary times, some workplace settings are still stuck in old traditions. It can be hard to find time to pump in between work schedules, family leave isn’t long enough, and work pressures can result in less milk production. Outside of work, sometimes breastfeeding specialists aren’t covered by insurance, milk production is low, or there are underlying issues with the baby that prevent latching or create an unpleasant experience for the mom and baby.

Should You Breastfeed Your Baby?

There are many reasons that may prevent a successful breastfeeding journey, but there are some ways to prepare for any problems that arise during this time.

1. Make work and family aware of your choice. They can have a plan in place to provide support.
2. Make your doctor aware. They can provide additional resources and connections that will give you the best experience possible.
3. Be realistic with your life and responsibilities. Are you able to wake up on demand to feed your child? Some babies will nurse over five times just through the night. It all depends on the child and the amount of milk being produced. On average, a breastfed baby will require more feedings than a formula-fed baby.
4. Are you okay with allowing your baby to share your body for X amount of time even after 9 months of pregnancy? Some mothers have less pleasant pregnancies than others or need to get back on a medication that maybe they had to stop taking during pregnancy. Many times, the medication not allowed during pregnancy will still not be allowed while breastfeeding.
5. Do you have the extra energy to breastfeed a baby? Every new mom is tired. Correction, EVERY mom is tired. But, having multiple younger kids may prove to be harder to balance with the extra energy needed to breastfeed.

Breastfeeding Tips For Mom

Take time to answer these questions with yourself or with loved ones. Sometimes, only the baby is considered when deciding to formula feed or breastfeed. But, as the mom and the person producing the milk, you are just as important in this decision.

Some of these questions, like having enough energy, can be supported with the right diet. A growing baby needs lots of nutrients and eats many times throughout the day. For the breastfeeding mom, the extra baby weight acquired during pregnancy helps produce milk. As the weight begins to fall off, an extra 500-600 calories a day and around 20 grams of protein are recommended to support this growing baby. This could be a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a glass of milk or an extra serving with lunch and dinner.

Here are some tips for daily eating habits:

• Try to eat at least 3 servings of protein a day, around 20 grams.
  • This can be a 4-ounce piece of chicken, some eggs with avocado toast, or a spaghetti with meat sauce.
• Make your carbohydrates count!
  • Focusing on consuming more whole grains will give you the much-needed energy your body and your mind will be craving.  
• Load up on vegetables.
  • Aim for a serving with each meal, around ½-1 cup.
• Aim for 2 servings of fruit a day.
  • One serving can be a medium apple, a cup of berries, or ½ cup of melon.
• Keep taking prenatal vitamins.
  • This can help supplement any vitamins and minerals you weren’t able to get with your diet.

Get Help From the Nutrition Experts

If you are ready to breastfeed or are breastfeeding and struggling, contact a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist at AZ Dietitians to support you and your baby during this amazing journey. 

Adapted from eatright.org and chop.edu