Hello, fellow breastfeeding mommas! We would like to honor you this Breastfeeding Month for the unconditional love you’re showing to your little ones.
Breastfeeding may have caused us pain (sore nipples, shoulder/arm muscle pains, etc.) and may have been inconvenient for us (pumping regularly, feeding every 2 hours the first few months, and so on) but we pushed through! We did it all for love for our kids.
As our way of showing our appreciation to you, we are sharing with you more amazing facts about breastfeeding that you still might not know:
- Very few illnesses are transmitted through breastfeeding. So yes, moms, you can continue to breastfeed your babies even when you’re sick. But always remember that when in doubt, consult your medical provider first.
- Breastfeeding not only protects your baby’s health but yours as well. Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of high blood pressure, osteoporosis, type 2 diabetes, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer.
- Breastfeeding burns between 500-600 calories a day. Ever wonder how some moms get back to their pre-pregnancy weight? Breastfeeding!
- Breastfeeding lessens our stress and anxiety. This is all thanks to the hormones prolactin and oxytocin which are both released by our brains whenever we breastfeed.
- Our breast milk is CONSTANTLY changing to meet our baby’s needs. It changes within a month, a week, a day, even within a single feeding session. Amazing, right?
- Majority of breastfeeding moms have more milk in their right breast, regardless if they are right- or left-handed. As to why, I guess it’s just one of life’s mysteries!
- Our breasts can detect temperature fluctuations among our babies, even for as low as one-degree difference. Consequently, breast milk will adjust by cooling down or heating up according to the baby’s need.
- The letdown of breast milk can be stimulated by just thinking about your baby or by another baby’s cry. Next time you pump, try looking at your baby’s photo.
These are very trivial facts about breastfeeding. We’re sure you know how much your baby benefits from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding may not be easy for everyone. We will all have our challenges throughout our breastfeeding journey, but on we press! A snappy salute to all the seemingly tireless breastfeeding mommies out there!
Sources:
www.cdc.gov
www.health-foundation.com
https://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com
