Breast feeding is the best food for your baby and you. That is a fact. It is the food that they were intended to have. It they way nature intended.

It is better for you, your figure returns to normal much quicker due to the contractions in your muscles when feeding, it is also thought to reduce the risk of certain cancers, heart disease, diabetes. Immunity is also increased in the baby as their mother's antibodies are passed on to them. It is also far less likely to result in overweight babies as it is designed for your baby and they drink as much or little as they need.

It is convenient, no bottles to prepare, no planning trips out in accordance to the number of feeds you need to take, no sterilising bottles, and it is free. It increases bonding with your baby.

Looking at all these advantages it would be easy to assume that most women would breast feed their babies. However they do not, in a report in 2007 it was stated that one in one hundred women breast feed until the baby is six months old, which the government advises.

Why is it that women do not breastfeed their babies? Why do so many not breastfeed at all or change to bottle feeding after a few days or weeks?

The reasons are various and a woman should never be made to feel guilty for not breast feeding as they are doing what they fee is right for them and their babies at the time.

Sometimes it is lack of confidence or support, although it is natural, we as humans in general have lost a lot of our natural instincts, which we would have had originally. We therefore need extra help to reassure us and guide us if our baby is not correctly positioned on the breast, the most common cause of soreness.

There are some mothers and some babies advised not to breast feed. In the case of babies, birth defects of the mouth (cleft lip or cleft palate), difficulty sucking, digestive problems, premature birth, small size, weak physical condition. See a lactation consultant if you have a breast infection, previous surgery, cancer or radiation treatment, or inadequate milk supply (uncommon).

Breastfeeding is not recommended for mothers who have certain problems such as: active herpes lesions on the breast, active, untreated tuberculosis, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection or AIDS, nephritis, serious illnesses, heart disease or cancer, or severe malnutrition.

Apart from any of the above problems in baby or mum there is not likely to be a physical problem not to breast feed. Often family issues effect the decision to breast feed or not, if you have toddlers you may find it difficult to find the time to relax and feed effectively. You may feel the toddler would resent the amount of time you need to spend with the baby feeding if you breast feed your new baby. You may want to share care with the baby's Dad and not be confident in expressing milk, which is not recommended fro the first six weeks anyway. There are many and various reasons why you may choose to breast feed your baby and many why you may choose to bottle feed your baby. What is the most important thing to remember after considering all the pros and cons is that you need to do what is best for your baby and you. If you breastfeed and do not feel comfortable with it your baby will pick up on this and feel insecure too. You know best what is best for you and your baby.

Learn more about this author, Angel Quinton.
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