Breastfeeding, not always easy

What could be more harmonious than breastfeeding a child that has been in your belly for nine months? Perfect harmony between a mother and a child. Though it is not always easy. The pros and cons of breastfeeding are set out here. Hopefully it'll help you make the right decision.

Breastfeeding

When you have given birth to a baby, you make a choice between breastfeeding it or bottle-feeding it. Breastfeeding is not easy for everyone. It is more than just bringing the two together. Breastfeeding can give all kinds of trouble. It is important that you give yourself and the baby time until things run smoothly. More and more studies point to the fact that breastfeeding is important for both mother and child. 

Advantages

• Breast milk contains all the nutrients in a  composition that is perfect for the child.
• Breast milk contains a lot of antibodies that protect your child against diseases.
• Breast milk protects the child against allergies, especially if they receive it the first six months.
• Breastfeeding ensures a closer relationship between mother and child.
• Breastfeeding speeds up the shrinking of the uterus to a normal size and it reduces the lochia. 
• Breastfeeding is practical: the milk has no germs, is wrapped well, always the right temperature and always available.
• Mothers that breastfeed their child save up to 400 pounds in the first six months.
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.

Disadvantages

• The mother is the only one responsible for feeding the child. The only way the partner can feed it, is when the mother pumps it into a bottle.
• The mother has to make sure she watches what she eats, so no alcohol, onions, garlic or cabbage.
• The first few weeks the mother could experience stagnation and sore nippels (cracks). 
•  When the mother gets back to work, she has to pump out the milk.

As you can see there are more advantages than disadvantages. Everyone has to take their time to see which of them weigh the heaviest. Mother and child need to get used to each other, especially in the beginning. The mother has to learn how to hold the baby in a position that is comfortable for both her and the baby.

Sources: www.todio.nl