a year ago

on december 23, 2011, we found out our baby adam needed open-heart surgery in two weeks. here he is on december 22, 2012, i'm so glad those worrisome days are behind us!

big sisters are the best!

this particular big sister is the most helpful of the three big sisters. the littlest big sister is helpful with lots of things, but this sister is great with babies, just like her mom was when she was a girl.

crunchy baby, sometimes

adam doesn't always wear cloth diapers, we do use a lot of LUVS, he's my fourth child to use LUVS and my first child to use cloth, I like the cloth but in my tiny apartment the only little problem I have with cloth is wear to keep them until I have enough to wash. After he poops, which is only a couple times a week, I will run through his cloth diapers occasionally. anyway, here he is, looking cute and having almost naked time while wearing a diaper and those leg things that keep them from getting cold legs while crawling around the house.

after the first year a baby knows how much he loves mommy's milk

The older a nursling gets the more aware he is of the world around him and the more he comes to like or dislike or even love things in his life. He knows he doesn't want his diaper changed because that means slowing down, he knows he loves it when his sisters come home from school because he has missed them all day. And the nursing almost 16-month old knows he loves being held and nursed by his mama.

two hours of wonderfulness, daily

when my son takes his nap during the day, often he gets two, sometimes only one, i hold him. i know i should do laundry or dishes or whatever but i don't because i like holding him and he likes being held, he sleeps longer and better if i hold him and i don't think this is by accident. i hear mothers say "he was asleep until i put him down" well, yes, of course he was, because there is nothing nicer for a baby than being in mother's arms.

i am a mammal

Duh, right? Lately I've been thinking about it though, about how in the United States there is this big rush to make our children grow up and be ready for the world and be independent and leave home and start their own lives. Why? I didn't have children so I could rush them out the door. I have children because I love children, I love babies, I love newborns, I love toddlers, I love preteens, I even love teens! For a couple of years now I have been wishing we could slow it down, add a year of high school, give our children more time to prepare for college and the World. What's one more year? Why are we in such a hurry?

I have four children, currently they are 15, 8, 5, and 1. My oldest is so close to graduating and then college, she may or may not live home during college, even though sometimes she drives me bonkers I am in no hurry for her to leave. I know once she moves out things will be different in some ways forever, I don't need that, it's not something I look forward to. I know she will take the world by storm, but I see no reason to hurry. My youngest child in school is in kindergarten, she is on the bus with her big sister headed off to school at 7:05 am, she is stepping off that bus at 2:45. That's almost like a full-time job. She is happy at school and like her sisters before her she is smart and well-behaved, my letting them be their own person because they are their own people must be working out somehow. My baby is 14 months old. We are together all day every day. He is a breast feeding baby and because he is a little behind from the heart defect he was born with, he seldom eats much other food, but he is a great little nursling. I hold him when he naps and I take him in bed with me at night. I pick him up when he asks me to and I take him for walks and sing to him and play peek-a-boo with him and I carry him around so he can see the world at my height. I breastfed all my children, I cuddled and loved on them, read to them and sang to them, but it was this boy, my last child, who made me really embrace the mammal of myself. I have held him for all about less than a dozen of the nights of his life. Why? Because we are mammals, he is not meant to sleep away from me and I am not meant to sleep away from him. It doesn't feel right, how can I keep him warm and safe and fed if I am not right next to him? How can I know each little time he needs to feel my hand or nurse a little if he is not in my arms? (to be continued)

adam nursing at the assembly at school today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdwOAzXIpGU

crashing computer make me cry

my computer crashed a few weeks back and i thought i lost all my photos since may 2012. we found a place who was able to get my pictures off my hard drive. they put them on an external drive and we bought that and ever since i've been putting my pictures on that drive. a couple days ago that drive died. *sob* other than a few pictures on facebook and some i printed and what i have here i have lost all the pictures of my children from roughly april 2012 to november 1012. now i am backing them up like crazy, burning dvds right away, uploading to facebook and photobucket. it makes me so sick to think of the loss of photos that i just cannot do it...

another big sister

adam has three, that's right, three big sisters! one has been on the job for eight years, the other for five years, here is the littlest of the big sisters who just became a big sister when adam was born. she is doing a pretty good job so far. not in this picture, here she is digging out stinky pumpkin inards :)

two of my babies

my daughter is eight, she is so good with her little brother, if he cries or makes a fuss sound and i do not get to him right away i can count on her to get to him and make him feel better quickly. yay for big sisters!

Nursing in the van.

13 months old!

14 years

there are 14 years between my first baby and my last baby. they are awesome.

The Great Outdoors

He probably learned to love being outside from me, or else he inherited it :) We love to be outside. Here he is waiting for the school bus to bring his sisters home.

My Son and Me

Here's a picture of me nursing my 1-year old to sleep. I recently met a woman at a La Leche League meeting who said both her children weaned when they turned one. I can't imagine that personally as all my children have been avid nurslings into their third years, that is, until and beyond age two. My experience is the older they are the more they love to be breastfed.

Sleep

Here we are, this is one of the nicest times of the day, evening, kids in bed, baby nursed and asleep on my chest, he nurses throughout the night whenever he wants, from the time I go to bed he wakes up to nurse twice, during the time he is asleep but I have not gone to bed yet he nurses a few times as well. I don't care, I want him to nurse as much as possible. He is my baby yet even though he's one now!

Daddy Time

My husband is not one of those guys who is super good at calming a crying baby, I'm not sure if there are guys like that. But, my husband LOVES holding a sleeping baby. So, here is a picture of him holding our sleeping little son.

Super Baby!

There he is, super baby! And he really is a super baby. This little guy lived four months and eleven days with a hole in his heart that was probably about half an inch in size, and two other holes, and he weighed 11 pounds so he was so small. For the rest of his life I will always always think he is super.

mommy has a new shirt and adam is nursing

weeeee!

adam and puppets at the library

i really need to take him to the library more often, he gets a big kick out of watching the

other kids.

sleeping man in stroller

i recently started putting adam in his stroller for walks because he finally got a little bit heavy and i didn't walk all summer when it was hot, he got used to the stroller right away and usually falls asleep on our walks so i can bring the stroller up the steps to our second story apartment.

adam's lovely curls behind our apartment with kudzu

well, the title pretty much says it all :) he loves to be outside and once in a while i will take a careful walk behind our apartment building where all the dogs poop and where all their owners don't pick it up because no one can see them. if the poop wasn't back there it would be my favorite place to walk. sadly we end up walking in the street for the most part.

adam and the school bus

it's not all breastfeeding all the time around here, we do other things too! here's adam watching for the bus after school one day.

my adam

a nice long nap

On a nice day Adam takes two naps, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon, for an hour and a half to two hours each. This doesn't normally happen because unfortunately Adam is a light sleeper and he doesn't always go back to sleep easily after he wakes up.

Today, Friday, he had a glorious three plus hours of sleeping and nursing. He nursed to sleep around 11:15 then stirred and nursed a little more several times until we had to go to the bus stop at 2:30 for his sisters. I got a little antsy to get up and do laundry and put things away and pick up toys and what not during that time but as all my other children were in school it was easy to remind myself how fast time goes and how childhood is fleeting and all, so I just held him, nursed him, napped a little, and watched part of Hoosiers, which was my dad's favorite movie and I had never seen any of it.

It was a nice long nap.

Nursing to sleep and playing with his ear

My son nurses to sleep almost every time he goes to sleep, be it nap time or bed time. He has gotten to the point of being a comfort nurser which I think is just great, it makes it very easy to keep him happy.

Aaaalmost there...

He was just about to fall asleep, still sucking but his head was falling back because he was almost out.

Adam+Outside=Big Time Happiness!

Adam loves to be outside. I just wish I could get a good picture of him outside! I must have taken about 50 pictures today and I'm not really madly in love with any of them. Oh well, here he is anyway, happy to be outside!

The Only Baby at Home!

The girls are back to school, Adam's two sisters in elementary school leave at 7:05 am, it's nice and chilly now in the mornings so going to the bus stop is a nice refreshing start to the day, sometimes Adam is awake and goes with, sometimes he is asleep in the house with his oldest sister. His oldest sister is a sophomore in high school and leaves around 7:45, after that it's just mommy and Adam all day. I think he likes having all the attention!

One Year Old

Adam is one now, one year and ten days old to be exact! He isn't standing yet as he is still behind with his large motor skills, but he has discovered different nursing positions that amuse him. :)

Favorite

For the rest of my life this will be one of my favorite pictures of my son, Adam. This was very shortly after we first saw him after he had open heart surgery. I looked at him and I did not feel scared, he was alive, his heart was fixed, he made it through the surgery. I felt anxious to get him in my arms and feed him, but he was there and it was a relief. I love this picture. Look at my strong boy, only 4 months and 11 days old, going through something most people never go through in their lives, what a strong and amazing boy!!

Mama loves Adam.

I say it to him all day, "Mama loves Adam," and kiss him all over his little softie self. He is such a joy. Adam will be a year old in three days, ah, a year, he made it! There were times in that first four months when I just didn't know, I really didn't know. My husband always said our son would be okay, my oldest daughter always said he would be okay, but for me, until I saw him alive and all fixed up after his surgery I just DID NOT KNOW.

For four months I held him all the time, all the time, because what if I didn't get to keep him? I did not want to look back and wish I had held him more, I knew that if I held him and knew he was gone, I couldn't let go, couldn't face it that he wasn't going to be with me that I couldn't bring him back... I thought about it a lot.

Coming up on one year, I feel like we should go to Disney World, I feel like we have won the lottery, like we need to do something HUGE to celebrate the fact that we still have this baby! That he is here! I put my ear on his chest and listen to his solid heart beat and it always makes me cry, strong boy, strong heart, hurray!!!

Mama loves Adam. I love Antonia. I love Josephine. I love Caroline. I love David. I am lucky indeed.

For my own reminder

http://www.the-mule.com/2012/08/responsive-parenting-why-tantrums-matter.html

Today is a set back for baby boys yet to be born

I am not going to write anything lengthy as I have a sleeping baby on my arm and a sore toosh from sitting on a hard computer chair reading about the statement of the AAP today about circumcising healthy baby boys.

I am going to say this:

A baby boy's penis is his own penis. He will grow up with it, he will masturbate with it, he will have sex with it, he will love it and take care if it his whole life. Shouldn't it be his decision if he wants to keep it the way it comes or change it?

If the penis was not meant to have foreskin it would not have it.

Do not circumcise your son, let him make that decision on his own. Educate yourself.

Phyllis Diller on Breastfeeding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=likomhFy9yE

Three Children

My middle girl nursed for 2 years and 1 month, I weaned her when I got pregnant with my youngest girl who weaned herself at 2 years 7 months, my son is still nursing on demand.

100 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby

100 reasons to breastfeed PDF Print E-mail

We’ve broken this HUGE list into three – best for baby, best for you, and best all around!

Please bear in mind that many of these studies are based on single geographical areas, and even when matched as case controls, are subject to bias, as so many factors must be taken into account when assessing something quite "immesurable" such as infacnt feeding. Many other factors are at play here, and these studies have been chosen of course to display the positive effects and merits (and potential) of breastfeeding, not to cause a scientific scrap!Please also remember that the corollory of these facts below do not match, we are not for a second saying for example, that formula feeding increases risk of any kind, and this data cannot be altered to state same.
The Breast Way for your baby
1. Breast feeding your baby girl reduces her risk of developing breast cancer by 25%.
For both pre and post menopausal breast cancer, women who were breastfed even for a short time, had a 25% lower risk of developing breast cancer

Exposure to breastmilk in infancy and the risk of breast cancer.
Epidemiology. 1994 May;5(3):324-31.

2. Breast milk provides immunity against viruses your baby comes in contact with.
You make antibodies that are passed to your baby in breast milk, protecting your baby against every virus you are exposed to, preventing them from getting sick, and helping them recover faster.

The mammary gland-infant intestine immunologic dyad.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2000;478:65-76. Review.

3. Breast milk kick starts your baby’s immune system
Exclusively breastfed babies have far less incidence of contracting infections because your precious milk contains so much good stuff! It contains healthy bacteria, antibodies, white blood cells (leucocytes), antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory agents. These agents evolved to compensate for developmental delays in the immune system during infancy. Indeed, that explains the defense by human milk against common infectious diseases in infancy, necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm infants, and immune-mediated disorders such as Crohn's disease in later childhood. These diverse evolutionary outcomes underscore the superiority of human milk for the nutrition of human infants.

The immune system in human milk and the developing infant.
Breastfeed Med. 2007 Dec;2(4):195-204. Review.

4. Breastfeeding helps a baby to pass meconium.

Colostrum, or early milk, is uniquely designed to help move this substance through the babys’ system.
5. Breastfeeding strengthens your babys’ immature digestive system.

This helps breastfed babies to absorb food more rapidly, grow better and resist infections such as gastroenteritis. Your breastfed babys’ stomach lining will be 15 times thicker than that of a formula fed baby. This helps to absorb food more rapidly and grow better.
6. Human milk for human babies. Cow’s milk for cows.

No?
Cows’ milk is designed to put on lots of weight, very fast, grow amazingly fast and sustain a cow’s brain. Doesn’t your baby need something different? Like human milk?
7. The world health organization recommends it.

“Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing food for the healthy growth and development of infants; it is also an integral part of the reproductive process with implications for the health of mothers. As a global health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years and beyond.

Exclusive breastfeeding from birth is possible except for a few medical conditions, and unrestricted exclusive breastfeeding results in ample milk production.”
http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/breastfeeding/facts/en/index4.html

8. Breast milk is always at the ready wherever you and your baby go, and has far more appealing packaging!

No reference needed!!
9. Breast milk provides a perfectly proportioned diet for your baby as it grows. Formula does not!

Your body knows who its breastfeeding! It adjusts the content of your milk according to the babys’ needs. Even in hot weather your milk adjusts to become more thirst quenching for your hot babe! Formula is formula no matter what the weather and whether or not you baby has a cold and needs more of a boost.

Position of the American Dietetic Association: breaking the barriers to breastfeeding.
J Am Diet Assoc. 2001 Oct;101(10):1213-20.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11794495?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.
PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_
DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlus

10. Breastfed babies spit up less!

Less hassle, less laundry, fuller tummy! Breast milk is more easily digested and so breastfed babies have far less spit up than formula fed.

The prevalence of regurgitations in the first 2 days of life in human milk- and formula-fed term infants.
Breastfeed Med. 2006 Autumn;1(3):168-71.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17661594?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

11. Breastfed babies have less constipation.

The relationship between stool hardness and stool composition in breast- and formula-fed infants.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7884622?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

12. Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers its mothers immunity.

This means less pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staph infections, flu, ear infections, German Measles.
Isn’t that 7 more reasons!?

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/895_brstfeed.html

13. Pre-term milk is especially designed for premature babies

Milk produced by women who deliver premature babies differs from that produced after a full term delivery. Until the baby catches up to their edd, the mothers milk remains similar to colostrum. How amazing is that?

Breast milk composition in a cohort of pre-term infants' mothers followed in an ambulatory programme in Colombia.
Acta Paediatr. 2007 Dec;96(12):1755-9. Epub 2007 Oct 11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17931396?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

14. Breastfeeding protects babies against diarrheoa.

Chronic enteropathy and feeding in children: An update.
Nutrition. 2008 Jul 11. [Epub ahead of print]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18621505?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

15. Breastfeeding protects against Crohns’ disease.

Crohns’ disease is an intestinal disorder that is chronic and life-lasting. It is one of a spectrum of inflammatory bowel disease that casues inflammation of the intestinal wall. It is extremely difficult to treat, and frequently requires multiple medications for life, and often bowel surgery to remove diseased portions of bowel.

Breastfeeding and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Nov;80(5):1342-52. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15531685?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

16. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing ulcerative colitis.

Another inflammatory bowel disease that causes ulceration and inflammation of the large bowel and rectum, often requiring radical surgery. A number of studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to develop this disease.

Breastfeeding and risk of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Nov;80(5):1342-52. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15531685?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

17. Formula increases the risk of children developing diabetes.

Many studies link the onset of juvenile diabetes to a lack of breastfeeding. It also conveys a protection against the development of Type II diabetes in later life.

Advances in our understanding of the biology of human milk and its effects on the offspring.
J Nutr. 2007 Feb;137(2):503S-510S.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17237337?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Early nutrition and later diabetes risk.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 2005;569:142-50. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16137119?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

18. Breastfed baby girls have a lower incidence of endometriosis in later life.

Endometriosis is a disease in which the endometrial lining develops in places other than the uterus such as the ovaries, with painful complications and heavy bleeding. Endometriosis can affect a woman’s fertility. Some women have claimed permanent cure through breastfeeding.

Breast-fed infants, possibly exposed to dioxins in milk, have unexpectedly lower incidence of endometriosis in adult life.

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2000 Feb;68(2):151-3. No abstract available
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10717822?ordinalpos=9&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

19. Formula fed babies have a higher rate of ear infections (otitis media)

Research has shown otitis media to be 3-4 times more prevalent in formula fed babies.

A prospective cohort study on breast-feeding and otitis media in Swedish infants.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994 Mar;13(3):183-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8177624?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

20. Formula feeding increases a babies’ chance of developing allergies.

This is especially true in families with strong family histories of allergy. This includes asthma, eczema, food allergies, respiratory allergies.

The association between infant feeding practices and subsequent atopy among children with a family history of asthma.
Clin Exp Allergy. 2007 May;37(5):671-9
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17456214?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

21. Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease.

Lancet. 1995 Dec 23-30;346(8991-8992):1714. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8551865?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

22. Breast milk lowers baby’s risk of developing asthma.

Association between breast feeding and asthma in 6 year old children: findings of a prospective birth cohort study.
BMJ. 1999 Sep 25;319(7213):815-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10496824?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

23. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome)

Sudden infant death syndrome.
Lancet. 2007 Nov 3;370(9598):1578-87. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17980736?ordinalpos=7&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries.
Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2007 Apr;(153):1-186. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17764214?ordinalpos=12&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

24. Breastfeeding protects against bacterial meningitis.

Protective effect of breastfeeding: an ecologic study of Haemophilus influenzae meningitis and breastfeeding in a Swedish population.
Int J Epidemiol. 1999 Feb;28(1):152-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10195681?ordinalpos=14&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

25. Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections.


Breastfed babies are less than half as likely to be hospitalized with a pneumonia or bronchiolitis. Risk of respiratory illness resulting in hospitalization is tripled in infants who are not breastfed, compared with those who are exclusively breastfed for at least 4 months.

Immunomodulatory constituents of human milk change in response to infant bronchiolitis.
Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2007 Sep;18(6):495-502.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17680907?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

26. Breastfeeding protects against Leukaemia.

A University of Minnesota showed that babies who were breastfed for 1 month had a 21% less chance of developing leukaemia than formula fed babies. The risk was reduced by 30% in those breastfed for 6 months.

Does prolonged breastfeeding reduce the risk for childhood leukemia and lymphomas?
Minerva Pediatr. 2008 Apr;60(2):155-61.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18449131?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Br J Cancer. 2005 Aug 8;93(3):379-84.
Breastfeeding patterns and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Kwan ML, Buffler PA, Wiemels JL, Metayer C, Selvin S, Ducore JM, Block G
Thisa study disporves any link between the two however:
The risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) was investigated in relation to breastfeeding patterns in the Northern California Childhood Leukaemia Study. Data collected by self-administered and in-person questionnaires from biological mothers of leukaemia cases (age 0-14 years) in the period 1995-2002 were matched to birth certificate controls on date of birth, sex, Hispanic ethnic status, and maternal race. Ever compared to never breastfeeding was not associated with risk of ALL at ages 1-14 years (odds ratio=0.99; 95% CI=0.64-1.55) and ages 2-5 years (OR=1.49; 95% CI=0.83-2.65). Various measures of breastfeeding duration compared to absence of breastfeeding also had no significant effect on risk. Complimentary feeding characteristics such as type of milk/formula used and age started eating solid foods among breastfed children were not associated with ALL risk. This study provides no evidence that breastfeeding affects the occurrence of childhood ALL.


Review of case-control studies related to breastfeeding and reduced risk of childhood leukemia.
Pediatrics. 2005 Nov;116(5):e724-31. Review
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16263987?ordinalpos=18&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Breast-feeding and risk of childhood acute leukemia.
J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999 Oct 20;91(20):1765-72.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10528028?ordinalpos=7&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Combining data from the UKCCS with results from other published studies showed a small reduction in the odds ratios for leukaemia, Hodgkin's disease, non-haematological cancers, and all childhood cancers combined, associated with ever having been breastfed. It is unclear whether the apparent small reduction in the odds ratio for these various types of childhood cancer is a generalized effect of breastfeeding or whether it reflects some systematic bias in the majority of studies that have investigated the question. (c) 2001 Cancer Research Campaign
27. Formula fed babies are more at risk of obesity in later life.

Climate change: Breastfeeding tackles both obesity and climate change.
BMJ. 2008 Jun 28;336(7659):1454. No abstract available
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18583658?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

28. Breastfeeding can help combat climate change!

Climate change: Breastfeeding tackles both obesity and climate change.
BMJ. 2008 Jun 28;336(7659):1454. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18583658?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

29. Cows milk is an intestinal irritant.

It should not be given to infants under one year according to many experts including Dr William Sears.
30. Breastfed babies have less chance of cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) stress while feeding.

This is particularly important when feeding a sick baby. Bottle fed babies are at increased risk of cardiopulmonary disturbances, including prolonged airway closure and obstructed respiration due to repeated swallowing. One study reported oxygen saturation levels of the infants’ blood at 90% of normal while feeding. In the same study, 20% of infants’ heart rates slowed substantially.

Coordination of sucking, swallowing, and breathing and oxygen saturation during early infant breast-feeding and bottle-feeding.
Pediatr Res. 2006 Oct;60(4):450-5. Epub 2006 Aug 28
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16940236?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Coordination of breathing, sucking, and swallowing during bottle feedings in human infants.
J Appl Physiol. 1990 Nov;69(5):1623-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2272953?ordinalpos=14&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

31. Breastfeeding enhances vaccine effectiveness.

Responses to immunisation with Hib conjugate vaccine in Australian breastfed and formula-fed infants, as well as other vaccinations. Plus it’s a great soother!

J Paediatr Child Health. 2007 Sep;43(9):597-600.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17688643?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

32. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC)

Clinical predictors of necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants.
Nurs Res. 2008 Jul-Aug;57(4):260-70.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18641495?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

The cost-effectiveness of using banked donor milk in the neonatal intensive care unit: prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis.
J Hum Lact. 2002 May;18(2):172-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12033080?ordinalpos=22&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Breast milk and neonatal necrotising enterocolitis.
Lancet. 1990 Dec 22-29;336(8730):1519-23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1979363?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

33. Breastfed babies require less doctor visits

Breastfed babies are statistically healthier, so they see doctors less often!
34. Breast milk is a natural tranquiliser!

Human milk calms fussy babies, and induces sleep like nothing else! Breast fed babies have a postprandial (just fed) look on their faces like they’ve reached nirvana! The sense of satisfaction from knowing that you are the reason for such contentment is soooooo fulufilling ?.

The circadian rhythm of tryptophan in breast milk affects the rhythms of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin and sleep in newborn.
Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2005 Dec;26(6):657-61.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16380706?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

35. Breastfeeding is a great calmer and pain reliever.

Human milk contains endorphins which soothe and calm babies during stressful times. A magic tool for vaccinations, injuries, head knocks, holding on cold packs, illnesses…. The list goes on… some babies will even tolerate minor surgery while breastfeeding (we’ve seen it done without a tear!)
36. Breastmilk tastes better than formula.

Breast milk is sweet and light. Formula bland and pasty. Which would you choose? Taste them if you don’t believe us!!
37. Breast milk is at the right temperature, always…

No heating, no hassle when traveling to find heater, no burns from too-hot bottles.
38. Breast fed babies are more likely to be alive at their 3rd birthday

Breast fed babies are less likely to develop life-threatening diseases, and are better able to combat most illnesses that do develop.

The relationship between breast-feeding and early childhood morbidity in a general population.
Fam Med. 1991 Sep-Oct;23(7):510-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1936731?ordinalpos=11&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
http://members.ao.com/diamichels/greenbm.htm

39. Breastfed babies have lower blood pressure

The effect of breastfeeding on cardiorespiratory risk factors in adult life.
Pediatrics. 2007 May;119(5):e1107-15.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17473082?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

40. Breastfeeding keeps cholesterol lower in later life.

Later effects of breastfeeding practice: the evidence.
Nestle Nutr Workshop Ser Pediatr Program. 2007;60:31-9; discussion 39-42. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17664895?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

41. Breastmilk is fresh!

It's made on demand which helps! Even pumped milk stays fresher longer.

www.medela.com

42. Human milk is the perfect food for a sick infant.

When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are often put on an electrolyte solution as formula is hard to digest. Breast milk on the other hand is perfect.
43. Breastfed babies take less time to settle when they wake at night.

Plus no lights and no going to kitchen or heating up required. And who doesn’t like a snuggle to get them back to sleep?
44. Breastfed babies have less tooth decay.

Breastmilk has bacteria-zapping cells that help prevent tooth decay. Bottle fed babies are at an increased risk of developing tooth decay when they are put to bed with a bottle of milk/ juice.

Cariogenic potential of cows', human and infant formula milks and effect of fluoride supplementation.
Br J Nutr. 2008 Jun 25:1-7. [Epub ahead of print]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18577299?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

45. Less money spent at the orthodontist!

The longer a baby is breastfed, the more likely their teeth are to be straight.
Babies' mouths were not intended to accommodate artificial nipples.

Orthodontic aspects on feeding of young children. 1. A comparison between Swedish and Norwegian-Sami children.
Swed Dent J. 1998;22(3):117-21.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9768459?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

46. Breastfed babies have better speech development.

“Early weaning (from breast) may lead to the interruption of proper oral motor development provoking alterations to the posture and strength of the speech organs and harming functions of chewing, swallowing, breathing and articulation of speech sounds. The lack of physiological sucking at the breast may interfere in the oral motor development , possibly causing malocclusion, oral respiration and oral motor disorders”.

Infant feeding and phonologic development.
Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 1993 Dec;28(1):41-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8300313?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

47. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop eczema.

A number of studies have shown this –

Breastfeeding as prophylaxis against atopic disease: prospective follow-up study until 17 years old.
Lancet. 1995 Oct 21;346(8982):1065-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7564787?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

[Primary prevention of allergic disease]
Acta Med Port. 2007 May-Jun;20(3):215-9. Epub 2007 Jul 2. Review. Portuguese.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17868530?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

48. Breastfed babies have better skin!

Lots of studies have shown this, but I don’t think you need to check them out! Just have a look at any breastfed babies’ skin!
49. Breastfed babies small divine!

Again with the published research…. Do we really need it? Grab yourself a breastfed baby and smell their skin! That’s original organics at its best!
50. Breastfed babies have better smelling nappies!

Ok, so no major research done in this area (how would they get people to research this anyway!?), but it's true… Pure stuff in, pure stuff out so to speak!
51. Breastfed babies are less likely to wet the bed.

Children who were breastfed are less likely to bed-wet, possibly from their developmental edge.

Breastfeeding during infancy and bed-wetting during childhood.
Pediatrics. 2006 Oct;118(4):1803-4. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17015584?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

52. Your breasts heat your baby up like no blanket could.

Your breasts can detect a one degree drop in your baby’s temperature and warm up accordingly! How amazing is that!?

Immediate maternal thermal response to skin-to-skin care of newborn.
Acta Paediatr. 2007 May;96(5):655-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17462058?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

53. Breast milk is better for premature infants

The more breast milk premature babies receive, the more responsive they become.
Direct and indirect effects of breast milk on the neurobehavioral and cognitive development of premature infants.
Infants receiving substantial amounts of breast milk showed better neurobehavioral profiles-in particular, motor maturity and range of state. These infants also were more alert during social interactions, and their mothers provided more affectionate touch. Higher maternal depression scores were associated with lower quantities of breast milk, longer latencies to the first breast-milk feeding, reduced maternal affectionate touch, and lower infant cognitive skills.

Dev Psychobiol. 2003 Sep;43(2):109-19.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12918090?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

54. Not breastfeeding has been associated with Multiple Sclerosis in later life.

Breast feeding and multiple sclerosis.
BMJ. 1994 May 28;308(6941):1411-2. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8019251?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

55. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing an inguinal (groin) hernia.

Breast-feeding and inguinal hernia.
J Pediatr. 1995 Jul;127(1):109-11.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7608794?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

56. Breastfeeding your baby means they will have less chance of developing a UTI(Urinary tract infection)

Protective effect of breastfeeding against urinary tract infection.
Acta Paediatr. 2004 Feb;93(2):164-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15046267?ordinalpos=13&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

57. Breastfed babies have better social development

The psychomotor and social development of breastfed babies clearly differs from that of bottlefed babies and leads at the age of 12 months to significant advantages of their psychomotor and social capabilities.

Influence of breast-feeding on the infant's intellectual development.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1994 Jan;18(1):32-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8126615?ordinalpos=15&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

58. Breastfed babies are less likely to develop osteoporosis in later life.

Breastfeeding and maternal and infant health outcomes in developed countries.
Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2007 Apr;(153):1-186. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17764214?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

59. Breastfed babies need to fast for less time pre and post surgery.

If you’ve ever tried to fast a baby for a procedure you’ll know the shorter time the better!
60. Attachment parenting and breastfeeding means less sickness for low birthweight infants.

Kangaroo mother care to reduce morbidity and mortality in low birthweight infants.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2003;(2):CD002771. Review.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12804436?ordinalpos=4&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

61. Breastfeeding optimises hand-eye coordination

Influence of breast-feeding on the infant's intellectual development.
J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1994 Jan;18(1):32-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8126615?ordinalpos=15&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

62. Breastfeeding protects your newborn against cold sores.

Neutralizing activity against herpes simplex in maternal milk]
Arch Fr Pediatr. 1989 Apr;46(4):263-5. French.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2546513?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

63. Breast fed babies are 20 times less likely to develop Necrotising enterolcolitis

Breast milk and neonatal necrotising enterocolitis.
Lancet. 1990 Dec 22-29;336(8730):1519-23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1979363?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

64. Breast milk will help treat or cure many a “sticky” eye.

We’ve tried this one! It works.

In vitro activity of human milk against the causative organisms of ophthalmia neonatorum in Benin City, Nigeria.
J Trop Pediatr. 1996 Dec;42(6):327-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9009556?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

65. Breastfed babies make great eaters as toddlers.

It figures that babies exposed to a wide variety of flavours in breast milk will have a much wider palate once weaned. Formula tastes the same. Always. Every day. Every meal!

Prenatal and postnatal flavor learning by human infants.
Pediatrics. 2001 Jun;107(6):E88.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11389286?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

66. Breastfeeding increases organ acceptance in case of organ transplant.

Children who were breastfed and received kidneys from their mothers or siblings are less likely to reject the transplanted organ.

Influence of breast feeding on subsequent reactivity to a related renal allograft.
J Surg Res. 1984 Aug;37(2):89-93.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6379295?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

67. Formula feeding is associated with a lower IQ.

Human breast milk enhances breain development and improves cognitive development in a way that formula cannot. Breastfed babies have been found to have average I.Qs 10 points higher than their bottle fed counterparts.

Effect of breast feeding on intelligence in children: prospective study, sibling pairs analysis, and meta-analysis.
BMJ. 2006 Nov 4;333(7575):945. Epub 2006 Oct 4.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17020911?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum


The Breast Way for you, mum!
68. Breastfeeding duration and postpartum psychological adjustment: role of maternal attachment styles.

J Paediatr Child Health. 2008 Jun;44(6):369-73.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18476931?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

69. Breastfeeding reduces your risk of developing breast cancer.

The incidence of breast cancer in developed countries could be reduced by more than half if women had the number of births and lifetime duration of breastfeeding that have been common in developing countries. A study of Chinese women found that their breast cancer incidence dropped by 63% when they breastfed for six years. Though that tends to be longer than most choose to do so, your reduced risk can be determined by the cumulative amount of time you've spent breastfeeding over the course of your life. For example, if you had three babies and nursed each for six months, your cumulative breastfeeding time of one and a half years would serve to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer and breastfeeding: collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 47 epidemiological studies in 30 countries, including 50302 women with breast cancer and 96973 women without the disease.
Lancet. 2002 Jul 20;360(9328):187-95 (link)

Lactation and a reduced risk of premenopausal breast cancer.
N Engl J Med. 1994 Jan 13;330(2):81-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8266907?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.
Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_
DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=4&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed

http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/about_breast_cancer/prevention_and_early_detection/
risk_factors/established_risk_factors/breastfeeding.html

70. Breastfeeding your baby helps your uterus to shrink back to normal size after childbirth.

The uterus of non-breastfeeding women always remain larger than normal. Remember your uterus enlarged to x 20 times its normal size in pregnancy! So breastfeeding not only burns more calories (our next reason!), it actually shrinks your tummy!

http://www.emedicine.com/med/byname/normal-and-abnormal-puerperium.htm

71. Breastfeeding burns 600kcal per day!

That’s 30 laps of a pool or an hour cycling uphill!

saferchild.org/breastfeed.htm
breastfeed-essentials.com/breastmilkadvantages.html

72. Breastfeeding increases bonding between a mother and baby.

All babies need lots of love and cuddles. There is no more comfortable feeling for a baby than to be held and breastfed. Breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin (see “how it works”) in the mother’s body.

Starting the process of mother-infant bonding.
Acta Paediatr. 2005 Jun;94(6):812-3. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16188794?ordinalpos=13&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

73. Newborns have a focal distance within 8-10 inches, exactly the distance from your breast to your face.

Enough said?!
74. Your areola darkened so that your baby will find it more easily!

Newborns see contrasts more easily, so this is nature’s way of helping out!
75. Breastfeeding mums sleep more.

Sorry bottle feeding mums, this one’s also true! Despite all the “ Maybe a bottle will help the sleep” myth…One study last year showed that breastfeeding mums slept 45mins a night more than those who were formula feeding, and reported feeling less tired.

Breast-feeding increases sleep duration of new parents.
J Perinat Neonatal Nurs. 2007 Jul-Sep;21(3):200-6.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17700096?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

76. Breastfeeding has a calming effect on you.

The released hormone oxytocin causes calmness, even sleep. Ask any breastfeeding mum what they want to do when they get home from work! Switch off… and feed their baby!

Breast feeding and resilience against psychosocial stress.
Arch Dis Child. 2006 Dec;91(12):990-4. Epub 2006 Aug 3.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16887859?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

77. Breastfeeding mums suffer less from postpartum depression.

Breastfeeding duration and postpartum psychological adjustment: role of maternal attachment styles. This study has shown an association between higher EPDS scores and breastfeeding cessation by 4 months after delivery.
J Paediatr Child Health. 2008 Jun;44(6):369-73.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18476931?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

78. Breastfeeding mums lose weight a lot quicker, and more than formula feeding mums.

Hands up if you don’t like this reason! In one study, mums who breastfed exclusively had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above their pre-pregnancy weights at 1 month post partum than mums who formula fed.

The effect of weight loss in overweight, lactating women on the growth of their infants.
N Engl J Med. 2000 Feb 17;342(7):449-53.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10675424?ordinalpos=3&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

79. Breastfeeding helps decrease insulin requirements in diabetic mothers.

Insulin requirements of diabetic women who breast feed.
BMJ. 1989 May 20;298(6684):1357-8. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2502253?ordinalpos=11&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

Insulin requirements during breast feeding.
BMJ. 1989 Jun 17;298(6688):1643-4. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2503163?ordinalpos=10&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

80. Breastfeeding may help to stabilize progress of maternal endometriosis.

Some women have even claimed a cure. Pregnancy often halts the disease, and so relief with breastfeeding follows…
81. Breastfeeding helps prevent post partum haemorrhage in mums.

It’s the oxytocin again! The contractions in the uterus that these cause shut down the blood vessels and help to prevent excessive bleeding

Influence of breastfeeding and nipple stimulation on postpartum uterine activity.
Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1994 Sep;101(9):804-5. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7947531?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

82. Breastfeeding decreases your risk of developing endometrial cancer.

A WHO study has shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds (cumulative years), the less likely she is to develop endometrial cancer.

Prolonged lactation and endometrial cancer. WHO Collaborative Study of Neoplasia and Steroid Contraceptives.
Int J Epidemiol. 1995 Jun;24(3):499-503.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7672888?ordinalpos=10&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

83. Breastfeeding decreases your chance of developing Rheumatoid arthritis.

Breastfed babies are 40% less likely to develop Juvenile RA or adult RA

Breast-feeding, but not oral contraceptives, is associated with a reduced risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 May 14. [Epub ahead of print]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18477739?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

84. Breastfeeding reduces your risk of developing ovarian cancer by one third.

Breastfeeding for a cumulative time of 12-24 months reduces your risk of developing ovarian cancer

Breastfeeding and risk of ovarian cancer in two prospective cohorts.
Cancer Causes Control. 2007 Jun;18(5):517-23. Epub 2007 Apr 21.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17450440?ordinalpos=13&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

85. Breastfeeding decreases your chance of developing osteoporosis.

Breast feeding: health benefits for child and mother.]
Arch Pediatr. 2005 Dec;12S3:S145-S165. Epub 2005 Nov 21. French
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16300936?ordinalpos=5&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

86. Breastfeeding mums have less sick days!

Since their kids are statistically healthier, they spend less time at home from work to look after sick kids!


The Breast Way for the world!
87. Breastfeeding contributes to family planning

Many breastfeeding mums don’t ovulate for the 1st 6 months after a baby; this is particularly true if their periods have not returned. Night feeding encourages amennorhoea (no periods).
However!.... DON’T rely on it as birth control… please!!

Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhoea.
Lancet. 1992 Jan 25;339(8787):227-30.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1346183?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

88. Less tampons, pads etc etc!

Plus who is in a rush to have a period back? Not us!! …
89. Breastfeeding is LOTS easier than using formula.

No formula, no choosing, no packaging, no teats, no sterilizing, no shopping for these, no mixing, no heating, no re-fridgeration, no cleaning up…. And no getting out of bed if you co-sleep! We’re not for a second denying that there’s a learning period at the start!!
90. Breast milk is FREE!

No –one escapes the “credit crunch”, right! What better time to breastfeed your new baby! (plus we actively encourage spending the money you save on nice things for you and your little beauty if you have cash to spare!)
91. Formula is expensive.
92. Breastmilk has no packaging

If every mother in the UK breastfed, 3000 tons of paper (formula labels) would be saved in a year! Bottles and teats require plastic, glass, rubber, silicone. These often have end products that are not recyclable and use natural resources that are not sustainable.
93. Formula feeding costs the state money – in millions

Factor in that these babies are more likely to be sick and hospitalized….
94. Breastfeeding families are less likely to have domestic abuse or violence.

Family violence and breast-feeding.
Arch Fam Med. 1995 Jul;4(7):650-2. No abstract available.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7606304?ordinalpos=37&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

95. No bottles to cart around!
96. Less equipment to buy and store.

All those gadgets for sterilizing, measuring, heating all take up your valuable counter space.
97. Breastfeeding means more sleep for Dads too!

Breastfed babies even need less burping! And we’re all keen on even a minute more sleep!
98. No choosing which brand is better and having to switch when it doesn’t suit and causes tummy upsets…
99. Breastmilk never has to be taken off the shelves due to “manufacturing problems”, and it’s never out of stock when you shop…
100. Breastmilk is never contaminated,

In fact it is antibacterial in nature
101. Breastmilk has no genetically engineered materials.

Most people are completely unaware of how much genetically engineered food they consume… including some formulas..
102. Breastmilk is 100% organic guaranteed!

Formula is not, neither are the cows that supply the milk for formula.
103. Breastfeeding is a great confidence booster!

Your boobs can sustain a human life… on you alone. What an amazing achievement! Now surely that’s truly something…
104. Breastmilk has a zero carbon footprint!

In honor of World Breastfeeding Week August 1-7, The Top Five Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby!

Top 5 reasons to breastfeed your baby from yahoo answers:
1. it's best
2. it's easy
3. it's cheap
4. better for mom
5. less mess.

Top 5 reasons to breastfeed your baby from about.com
1. increases baby's IQ
2. helps mom lose baby fat
3. baby less likely to die of sids
4. reduced allergies
5. the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it

Top 5 reasons to breastfeed your baby from nutritionexpert.com
1. contains antibodies
2. "Decreased health-related risks for infants of ear infections, stomach viruses, diarrhea, respiratory infections, asthma, obesity, diabetes, childhood leukemia and more"
3. "Decreased health-related risks for moms of Type 2 Diabetes, breast and ovarian cancer, and postpartum depression"
4. promotes bonding
5. breastfeeding helps mom burn calories


Those are just a few good reasons to breastfeed your baby!

Moby wrapped 11-month old

It's summer vacation and my girls NEVER want to go to bed. So, what do you do at 1:20 am when your kids want a snack and you are holding your baby in your arms? Put him in the Moby wrap of course, because I am not super mom enough to wash and cut up a yellow pepper with one hand. Adam hasn't been in his Moby for a while and apparently he still likes it just fine!

August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week

Another mom's breastfeeding story!

http://www.drmomma.org/2009/07/breastfeeding-in-land-of-genghis-khan.html

This lucky mom breastfed in Mongolia, a country where breastfeeding and breastmilk are not just approved, but revered! Go Mongolia!

My 10 1/2 month old son and me!

Having three daughters before Adam made me even more of a feminist than I was before and I was always a feminist! I was always all about girls doing what they wanted and women doing what they wanted and my house was just a Girl Power zone! But, I am so glad I got to have a son too! I worked on my husband for a year to convince him we should have one more baby and am I ever glad he gave in! Adam is the most wonderful little boy, even when he is crying or mad or impatient and I am hurrying to finish my dishes or I am forced to give up on them and pick him up, I think he is the greatest boy ever! He is my little sweetie and I couldn't be more thankful for him as a person and I couldn't be happier that I have been lucky enough to experience being mom of a son along with mom of three amazing, wonderful daughters! They are all so wonderful.

Milk donation.

I went to a La Leche League meeting last week, they only have them once a month here and I wish they were every week, it's SO nice to get out and talk with other moms! This was only my second meeting. The leader asked if I still had frozen milk, I said yes, a little, and she said she knew an adoptive mother who needed milk! So I got to donate about 23 ounces of milk for another baby. I've donated blood before, but donating milk was cooler.

Ha ha ha!

Minding his business.

Glancing at me.

Ha ha ha, mom is so funny!

He thinks he's so funny now.

A lot of times when Adam is nursing if I look at him he will let go and smile at me. Here he was looking at me and I was looking at him but I was not smiling or being silly in any way because I want him to eat! He is a funny guy though, if I laugh he laughs, if anyone in the family laughs he laughs, and he likes to nurse and go back and forth back and forth, left-right-left-right, he gets impatient waiting for the milk so he goes back and forth. Such a goof ball. But now when the milk is coming he can drink and not choke or sputter or let go to catch his breath like he did before his heart surgery. I love watching him nurse, he is such a strong little boy now!

My nursing boy. 10 1/2 months old.

Oh where, oh where has my little boy nursed, oh where ever, where ever he gets hungry!

School Movie theater Restaurants Swimming pool DMV Park To be continued :)

Breastfeeding my 10-month old at the movies.

This picture turned out a little dark, or foggy or something. Adam has been to several movies, a few at the library, a few at the theater. Tonight we saw a movie with our kiddos and Adam nursed off and on for a lot of the movie, I think he liked having the boob right there in his reach because even when he wasn't nursing he was hanging out right there.

Nursing in the car, almost ten months old.

Ten months old!