You are pregnant and you are getting ready to for your babies’ arrival. You have lists, books and advice from those around you and it may seem overwhelming. To help you prepare for breastfeeding the best thing to do is, to do that. Prepare.

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Go in with a clear and open mind. Have no worries, mothers have been doing this for hundreds of years. When you are learning about the process, take mental notes and accept the information with an open heart. There will be a lot of critics and judgments on who, what, where, when and how of breastfeeding. Go with what you are most comfortable with. It is important you do what you personally feel is best. Always trust your first instinct.

Once you have made your decisions on the processes and what you want to do, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It is a good idea to always have a paper and pen near you at all times. This is great for when that question pops into your head in the middle of dish washing. Keep that list and write down your thoughts about each question. When you seek advice, ask those you trust the most and that you are comfortable with. Try speaking with your doctor, your mother, friends or any other nursing mothers that you trust. Their personal experiences and advice can help you in your breastfeeding journal.

Supplies. There is not much you need to purchase but there are a few items that will help you during this time. Look at comfortable nursing bras, a good breast pump, and a comfortable chair for nursing, ice packs, reliable breast pads and nursing blankets. You may want to consider asking friends what ointments they use to help with sore nipples.

There is not a lot that you can do to prepare physically for breastfeeding. Learn the science behind the act by reading books and attending nursing courses. Knowing how your body works will help you when the time comes to nurse.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful and great experience for you and your child. There will be lots of bonding and building between the two of you. Purchase your supplies, ask questions, learn and keep an open mind; breastfeeding will become natural to you before you know it!

 

Author’s Bio

Heather Smith is an ex-nanny. Passionate about thought leadership and writing, Heather regularly contributes to various career, social media, public relations, branding, and parenting blogs/websites. She also provides value to http://www.nanny.net/ service by giving advice on site design as well as the features and functionality to provide more and more value to nannies and families across the U.S. and Canada. She can be available at H.smith7295 [at] gmail.com.

Guest Post by Shannon.

Breastfeeding has long been known to give unparalleled health benefits to both mother and child.

Breastfed infants get sick less frequently and have fewer allergies. Mothers who breastfeed lose their pregnancy weight faster and reduces the risks of several types of cancer as well as lowering the risk of osteoporosis. Studies in recent years are showing indications that breastfeeding can also improve cognitive abilities and intelligence levels well beyond infancy.

For many years, research was done only on children from ages one year to five years. After breastfeeding for at least nine months, toddlers and pre-schoolers consistently performed better in various tests that involve intelligence. Of course, other benefits were duly noted such as the better health in general of those that were breastfed, but those benefits were well known. The effect on
intelligence levels was a surprise to most in the medical community.

There are several theories as to why breastfeeding appears to increase intelligence. Most researchers believe that it is a combination of several or even all of these theories. Here are the five main theories proposed by researchers:

1. Breastfeeding in itself may promote better development of the brain simply because of the closeness of the bond with mother. The theory proposes that because of this close bond, breastfed babies grow into children with more self-confidence and higher levels of self-esteem, which generally encourage active learning and a healthy desire for exploration and pushing the boundaries.

2. Breastmilk contains large amounts of lactose, far more than cow’s milk. Lactose breaks down in the body into both glucose and galactose. Galactose is a micro-nutrient that is necessary for proper brain tissue development. Animal studies have shown that the higher the intelligence of the mammal, the more lactose can be found in their milk.

3. Cholesterol is found in breastmilk. While an elevated level of cholesterol is unhealthy, particularly in adults, cholesterol is a needed substance in making nerve cells in the developing brain. These nerve cells are how the brain communicates from one part to another.

4. Taurine is another substance found in breastmilk in larger amounts than in cow’s milk. Taurine is an amino acid which is vital to healthy brain development.

5. Breastmilk contains an omega-3 fatty acid called docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA. Recent studies have indicated that omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, are of extreme importance in developing healthy brain tissue and function. Levels and benefits are greatest from mothers who consume foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like certain cold water fish, but even without a good diet, there is still DHA passed through the breastmilk to the infant.

While the effect of breastfeeding for infants and toddlers has been long known, until the past twenty years, the medical community was unaware of the longterm benefits for intelligence. A study in Great Britain followed children born in 1991 and 1992 and found higher intelligence levels on average for breastfed children over those who were not breastfed and those differences remained noticeable at age 14. Another study in New Zealand found measurable differences at 18, with the most intelligent subjects being the ones who were breastfed the longest.

About The Author
Shannon is a mom of two and a member of

Image credit: duron123 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Guest Post by Shannon.

There is no valid reason why breastfeeding one’s infant should be relegated to a bathroom or other out of the way location. It should be a basic human right to breastfeed wherever one is comfortable doing so, regardless how public. One would not expect a bottle-feeding mother or one who is feeding the baby solid food to do so in a bathroom, and feeding at the breast is essentially the same thing.

Would the person who objects to public breastfeeding be willing to take his or her dinner into the bathroom to eat it? Probably not. Then why on earth would that person want to force a helpless infant to have to eat there? Just as that person has no problem with anyone else eating in public, there is no reason for the infant in question not to be allowed to eat in public. The breasts of a woman are meant to provide sustenance to her baby, and for her to use them that way is completely within the realm of propriety, even in public places.

The main reason many say they object to the practice is because a woman’s breasts have been so sexualized that even the slightest glimpse of a baby attached to one has become scandalous – and yet many of those same people who assert their objection will go to a beach and purposefully ogle (or show) much more flesh than the average breastfeeding woman shows.

For breastfeeding in a public place to be offensive is ludicrous. If someone is uncomfortable with the situation, that person is certainly within his or her rights to leave the vicinity of the breastfeeding mother. He or she is welcome to avert his or her eyes and look elsewhere. However, for that person to try to force a negative opinion on someone who is simply doing what she feels is best for her child is beyond the scope of the objecting person’s rights.

There are so many places that strive to be “politically correct” that have stated that women may not breastfeed on their premises, and, as long as that is posted, that is the right of the proprietor of the establishment. However, public places such as parks and restaurants (where people go to eat) should be places where a breastfeeding mom can feed her child without fear of attack. For a restaurant to refuse to allow an infant to eat where everyone else is allowed (and urged) to eat is absurd.

On top of all of that, however, the law in the United States is actually pro-breastfeeding. One federal law, added in 1999, says that “a woman may breastfeed her child at any location in a federal building or on federal property, if the woman and her child are otherwise authorized to be present at the location.”

Another act requires employers to allow employees to breastfeed, requiring them to provide a private place other than a bathroom. By 2009, 47 states had passed laws either allowing women the right to publicly breastfeed, or disallowing prosecution of them for indecency.

Breastfeeding is an important part of growing an infant, and for parents to be denied this simply because of location is just wrong.

About The Author
Shannon is a mom of two and a member of http://www.pregnancygroup.org

Image credit: koratmember / FreeDigitalPhotos.net