How to respond to relatives who compliant about your breastfeeding

Most of the time family and friends respect our choices. Yet, occasionally we have a few ney-sayers in our lives, who don't understand why we do what we do. If you have been approached by a family member, a friend, or even a professional who is either trying to discourage you from breastfeeding, or is suggesting you stop because your child is too old to be still breastfeeding,gently tell them to mind they own business. But if you want to explain the benefits of breastfeeding here there are ten good reason to breastfeed your baby. Remember, the American Academy Of Pediatrics strongly recommends babies are breastfed for the first year of their lives.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Patience

1. Breatsfeeding helps a new mom to lose weight. You ’burn’ 500 calories each day just by breastfeeding!
2. Breastfeeding helps the uterus to return to its original size. It also helps to prevent excessive bleeding after the birth of the baby.
3. Formula-fed babies have more fat cells than breastfed babies, and statistics show they are at greater risk for obesity later in life.
4. Research shows that children who were breastfed have higher IQ’s than those who received formula. Breastmilk has special factors which develop brain cells, and these factors are not present in formula.
5. Breastfed babies are healthier babies. Research has shown that children who received formula as infants have a much greater chance of developing diabetes, asthma, allergies, and cancer.
6. Breastfeeding helps to decrease a woman’s stress level. Every time she breastfeeds, her brain releases a hormone (Prolactin) which induces a state of ’euphoria’ or feeling of well-being.
7. Breastmilk is simple to digest, (or, in other words, formula is not). Babies who are completely breastfed do not usually have trouble with spitting up. When they do spit up, it doesn’t stain clothing.
8. Babies who receive formula are prone to constipation. Formula contains large amounts of iron (too much) because the type of iron used is not easily absorbed by the body, thus, most of the iron in formula actually passes out into the babies stool. The iron in breastmilk is completely utilized by the body, so, breastfed babies do not have problems with constipation.
9. A LACK OF BREASTFEEDING has been identified as one of the 3 modifiable risk factors in SIDS (’crib death’)!!! (The other two are: 1. prone sleep position (on stomach) and 2. exposure to cigarette smoke.)
10. Breastfeeding reduces a mother’s chance of getting breast cancer and her
    daughter’s chance of getting it as an adult.

Tips & Warnings

• For more information on breastfeeding, pregnancy and babycare visit our website at www.joyinbirthing.com or visit la leche league at www.lalechelegue.org/