Breastfeeding Basics: The Whys and Shoulds of Breastfeeding

By Julianne McKee Huft, M.A.,B.S., Psychology

Ever wondered if breastfeeding was for you? In this informative, yet hands-on book written by a breastfeeding mother of three for seven plus years, you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about breastfeeding. From the many benefits for both mother and child, to those questions just too embarrassing to ask, this book is sure to find any new or seasoned mother one step closer towards her own breastfeeding decision!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Julianne McKee Huft, M.A.,B.S., Psychology
• Release date: Oct 7, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466050747

Julianne McKee Huft, M.A.,B.S., Psychology

As a Nutritionist and Certified Health Coach, Julianne is also a dedicated freelance writer and mom for over 23 years. Julianne's writing career continues to expand in an upward direction involving wellness and nutrition articles, parenting, and a dedication to consistent and useful information for all of her readers!

Book preview

Breastfeeding Basics:

The Why’s and Should’s of Breastfeeding

Julianne McKee Huft, M.A., B.S., Clinical Psychology

Copyright 2011 Julianne McKee Huft, M.A., B.S

www.ParentsSkills.com

Published on Smashwords

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All rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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CONTENTS

Why Breastfeed?

*Health Benefits to Baby

*Health Benefits to Mom

*Because You Want To

*Because Your Baby Wants You To

Plan Ahead

*The Why’s of Planning

*Planning Efficiently

*Preparing For The Next Step

Expect Everything

*Wide Road, Narrow Road

*White Waters Ahead!

*Keep Your Mindset

Research is Knowledge

*When in Doubt, Read

*Listen to Your Mother

*Other Mothers: A Pot of Gold?

Here Comes the Baby!

*Time is of the Essence

*Remember Your Goals

*Difficulty Doesn’t Equal Failure

*Rivers are Flowing!

Six Steps to Simple

*To Cover or Not to Cover

*The Breast Pump

*Position is Everything

* Grab a Pillow

*A New Mother’s Best Accessory

*No Stress, No Worries

Proof is in the Pudding

*Sit back and enjoy the ride!

*Life is good

*Happy Mommy, Happy Baby

When to Wean?

A Lifetime of Reward

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Acknowledgements

It is here that I give a special thank you to my three children, Preston, Austen and Kelsey, for whom without such a privilege to breastfeed, my life would have never been so blessed with these forever and wonderful memories. I love you three!

I’d also like to thank every woman I know who has touched my life with the sharing of their own breastfeeding experiences; the good, the bad, the laughter and the tears.

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Chapter 1 Why Breastfeed?

Almost seventeen years ago, a little test changed my life. I found out I was pregnant. And although it was the last thing I was expecting as a young married wife, full time student and at twenty-two years of age, my pregnancy wasn’t the only thing that would be changing me, so would breastfeeding; for the better!

Health Benefits to Baby

Your baby needs you. She also needs breastfeeding. Sure, formula is good too; fortified with nutrients and brain boosting vitamins some companies even claim is the same ingredient found in breast milk. But what if formula truly wasn’t as good? What if it truly wasn’t as nutritious as nature’s counterpart?

The benefits of breastfeeding are practically without end. Studies have found breastfeeding to be especially good for your baby’s immunity. Say you catch a cold; we all do sooner or later during those winter months, and you may be wondering if it is still safe to nurse your baby during this time. Well studies show, that although yes, you do have a cold, your body is also producing powerful antibodies to fight off that cold, which are in turn, also passed to your baby! These antibodies are then passed on through the breast milk to your baby to actually help your baby stay well, actually decreasing her likelihood of getting the cold that you have altogether. Your immunity passed onto your baby will also protect her from a whole host of other viruses like . And not to worry, if you catch a cold, it won’t go through your breast milk in the negative ways because she’s getting your antibodies that fight against it as well.

Another thing that science knows is that nature’s sweetest most wholesome milk for your baby can only be produced without flaw, from you. It is the one food you will feed your baby that is perfect for your baby; in every way. Not only is breast milk perfect for your baby, but it has every single nutritious ingredient and vitamin your baby needs to grow, to build up immunity (to things like disease, sickness, colds, allergies) and even aids in intelligence and brain development. Can formula do that? No, but they’re sure trying!

Research continues to unlock the numerous and seemingly unending studies linking the health benefits of breast milk to your baby’s growth and well being. Just check out any of the major food and drug companies, pediatric sites, or wellness and nutrition sites regarding babies, children or nutritional health and development and you will find overwhelming results of positive information regarding breastfeeding. In fact, you may find it rather hard to find anything negative about this wonderful facet of perfect nutrition that our bodies have been made to be doing since the beginning of time! And this in itself is very good news for all of us women even the slightest bit interested in breast feeding!

The power of breast milk and its benefits to your baby are overwhelming. Research has found (just to name a few)