It is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics to Breastfeed your child exclusively for 6 months and then continuing giving them breast milk for up to 1 year. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least two years. Both organizations boast the many health and emotional benefits for babies while breastfeeding, but even so, the numbers of breastfeeding mothers in the black community are still lagging behind other racial groups.
In my experience as a mother over the past few years, I have seen an uptick in black, millennial mothers wanting to breastfeed or pump their milk instead of just relying on manufactured milk, so there has been progression but we can do better as a group. If you are on the fence or needing a bit more supporting evidence for your decision to breastfeed or not, check out these 5 reasons to nursing that will benefit you as a mom.
Breastfeeding is Cheaper!
When you take into account the cost of baby formula, which can cost anywhere between $16-$35 a jug, baby water, and bottles, feeding a baby from infancy to 1 year old is expensive! The all natural and all free alternative to this is breastfeeding. Granted, some mothers are unable to breastfeed for medical reasons, but forthose of us who can, it can save you a ton of money. The only supplies you need is food to nourish your body and maybe a few extras.
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If you plan to return to work you will need a breast pump in order to express your milk but you can get one for free through your insurance. Services like AeroFlow work with your doctor to get one shipped to your house before your due date. Reusable nursing pads and nipple shields are other tools that can be bought to make your experience easier but even with these extra purchases you will be saving hundreds by choosing to breastfeed your baby.
Breastfeeding is more efficient than bottle feeding!
Not only does breastfeeding cut down costs, but it also cuts down feeding time. Without having to set aside time to clean bottles, measure out formula & water and make sure you don’t run out of either during the middle of the night, you are just left with the time spent nursing your baby. The benefits of cutting out all of the extra prep work are really felt during those late night and early morning feedings when you are deep in the sleep deprivation that comes along with caring for an infant.
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The efficiency of breastfeeding also benefits moms on the go. There are a lot fewer supplies you need to stuff into a diaper bag or the back seat of your car when headed out to dinner, shopping trips or social functions when all your baby needs to eat is your boob!
Breastfeeding helps weight loss after pregnancy!
If you are active on social media you know that just a few days or weeks after a celebrity gives birth the inevitable ‘snapback’ picture will be posted on Instagram, showing off that insane post-pregnancy weight loss. Well, most of us regular folks aren’t lucky enough tohave trainers and nutritionists at our beck & call. Juggling real life with a newborn and your healing your body can be difficult.
Obviously, these two things should be your first priority but many of us wonder how long it will take to get our pre-pregnancy body back. Well, the good thing is that breastfeeding burns a lot of calories! Breastfeeding, in addition to drinking plenty of water, light exercise and eating a healthy, balanced diet can help your body bounce back and be better than ever in no time!
Breastfeeding helps you bond with your newborn baby!
A lot of mothers, especially first-time moms, worry about having a connection with their baby after delivery. Breastfeeding is an excellent way for both mom and baby to feel a strong connection of love and necessity for one another. There are a lot of medical explanations for this natural, innate bonding experience but I like to focus on the emotional side.
The time spent nursing and cuddling is unlike any other. For 9 months you and your baby were one. After birth, your child will be separated from you for the first time and things like nursing and co-sleeping help ease the separation. At times you may become frustrated with the demands of nursing, especially when returning to work, but remember that this period in you and your child’s life is so short! Try to cherish and appreciate every second of it.
Breastfeeding protects you against diseases and cancers!
An amazing health benefit to mothers who breastfeed is the protection against diseases. As you may know, black women are more susceptible to certain cancers, breast & cervical are just two examples of this. But breastfeeding for at least 6 months can actually help prevent these cancers in women.
According to MDanderson.org, most women who breastfeed experience hormonal changes during lactation that delay their menstrual periods. This reduces a woman’s lifetime exposure to hormones like estrogen, which can promote breast cancer cell growth. Of course, breastfeeding is not 100% effective in preventing things like breast cancer but every little bit helps!
Brittany Wright, B.A in Creative writing and English – University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, is an aspiring writer and creator of the She’s Wright blog. This black, millennial mom loves everything beauty, motherhood, and marriage related!
