A Breastfed Baby

A Breastfed Baby

There is nothing more natural or fulfilling to your newborn baby than to be at the breast of their mother. It is a newborn baby’s first impulse; one of survival and comfort. There is also nothing better than to breastfeed in the aspect of the psychological health of your baby. All of baby’s needs in the form of: nutrition, immunity, attachment, and comfort can be met by a nursing mother. Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of breast cancer among mothers as well as pulling things together after delivery. The benefits of breastfeeding are endless for both baby and mother. ”The consensus that “breast is best” is embedded in cultural ideals of motherhood” (Artis, 2009).

That being said, the United States is behind many other countries in the form of education, advocacy, community support, and benefits at work. In our country, infant mortality is less than respectable despite our highly industrialized society. As stated by Unicef,

“Formula is not an acceptable substitute for breastmilk because formula, at its best, only replaces most of the nutritional components of breast milk: it is just a food, whereas breast milk is a complex living nutritional fluid containing anti-bodies, enzymes, long chain fatty acids and hormones, many of which simply cannot be included in formula” (Breastfeeding, 2012).

Did you know that a woman’s milk changes to fit the needs of a growing infant? The milk for a newborn or small infant is more yellow in color due to its high content of nutrition compared to an older infant who is more active and starting solid food. Milk for an older infant is whiter in color because of the higher fat and calorie content needed for energy throughout the day. The fact that our body can modify the milk it makes to perfectly fit what our baby needs is strong evidence that nothing can compare to its benefits. Why aren’t their better laws to promote breastfeeding mothers at work? The biggest reason is money. Businesses are not going to add a benefit that will cut their profits by even an inch unless mandated to do so by law. Advocacy needs to be of higher priority to push for normalcy of breastfeeding. The benefits would end up outweighing the costs. The Center for American Progress Explains,

“While some critics argue that paid family leave would be too costly for businesses and for Americans, not guaranteeing families this right is also costly. If women are allowed to take paid leave after the birth of a child, it is more likely that they will breastfeed for a longer period of time, which has health benefits for both children and mothers. The United States would save an estimated $13 billion annually in health care costs if 90 percent of mothers breastfed exclusively for six months. It would also save the lives of an estimated 1,000 babies” (Farrell, 2016).

With the strain on our healthcare system due to our increasing presence of illness, it would be a great relief to mounting healthcare costs of families, not to mention saving baby’s lives.

References

Artis, J. E. (2009, November 12). Breastfeed At Your Own Risk. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from https://contexts.org/articles/breastfeed-at-your-own-risk/

Breastfeeding. (2015, July 29). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_24824.html

Farrell, J. (2013, March 18). We Can't Afford to Ignore the Benefits of Breastfeeding. Retrieved April 10, 2016, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/news/2013/03/08/55769/we-cant-afford-to-ignore-the-benefits-of-breastfeeding/

Maternity Leave and Breastfeeding Rates. (2012). Retrieved April 10, 2016, from http://kellymom.com/blog-post/maternity-leave-bf-rates