Nursing does not diminish the beauty of a woman’s breasts; it enhances their charm by making them look lived in and happy. ~Robert A. Heinlein
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Breastfeeding may Boost IQ
A new study has found that the children who were breast-fed exclusively for the first three months of life or longer scored nearly six points higher on IQ tests at the age of 6 than children who weren’t breast-fed exclusively.
One expert thinks it’s the nutrients in mothers’ milk — which aren’t found in other foods — that are essential for brain development and increased IQ.
It is not surprising because many studies have similar results indeed. Remember the favorite tag line of the formula milk? “Breastmilk is still best for babies up to two years.” Indeed.
Dr. Ruth Lawrence thinks that because mothers’ milk contains certain amino acids not found in formula, it’s better for infants’ developing brains. These amino acids include omega three fatty acids and DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid), which are important for brain growth, she noted.
Human milk also contains cholesterol while formula doesn’t. She also said that cholesterol is very important for brain tissue, it’s very important for nerve tissue. This is the reason why human milk is a better nutrient to support brain growth. ~Source: HealthDay
View the BREASTFEEDING STORY
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I quote:
*Breastfeeding is an unsentimental metaphor for how love works, in a way. You don’t decide how much and how deeply to love - you respond to the beloved, and give with joy exactly as much as they want. ~Marni Jackson
*A woman’s life isn’t worth a plateful of cabbage if she hasn’t felt life stir under her heart. Taking a little one to nurse, watching him grow to manhood, that’s what love is. ~Carol Shields, The Stone Diaries
*If a multinational company developed a product that was a nutritionally balanced and delicious food, a wonder drug that both prevented and treated disease, cost almost nothing to produce and could be delivered in quantities controlled by the consumers’ needs, the very announcement of their find would send their shares rocketing to the top of the stock market. The scientists who developed the product would win prizes and the wealth and influence of everyone involved would increase dramatically. Women have been producing such a miraculous substance, breastmilk, since the beginning of human existence. ~Gabrielle Palmer
*The benefits to the mother of immediate breastfeeding are innumerable, not the least of which after the weariness of labor and birth is the emotional gratification, the feeling of strength, the composure, and the sense of fulfillment that comes with the handling and suckling of the baby. ~Ashley Montague
*It is only in the act of nursing that a woman realizes her motherhood in visible and tangible fashion; it is a joy of every moment. ~Honore de Balzac
I wanted to learn more about breastfeeding since I decided that I will breastfeed our dear daughter Dae. I took this quiz and it’s great to learn more. :)
1. Breast milk gives our baby plenty of VITAMIN C.
This important vitamin helps our baby absorb iron. And just one eight-ounce serving of breast milk gives our baby 20 percent of the recommended daily allowance. So Chest, my hubby, sees to it that I eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to make sure that I get enough Vitamin C myself.
2. Breast milk doesn’t have a large supply of PROTEIN.
Surprise! I was really surprised that breast milk isn’t rich in protein, but I learned that it is perfectly fine for our baby, especially in the first few weeks. According to the American Dietetic Association, a newborn’s immature kidneys have a hard time processing large quantities of protein. But our baby is easily able to absorb what protein there is in breast milk — another reason why breast milk is better than formula or cow’s milk.
3. How many calories are in a four-ounce serving of breast milk? 10? 400? or 85 CALORIES? Yes, 85 CALORIES baby!
I learned that a baby needs lots of calories, and breast milk is formulated to help our baby gain weight. In fact, it’s 55 percent fat and 37 percent carbohydrates. So I don’t skip meals or start trying to lose weight too soon or too quickly after giving birth so I can keep up with the demands of milk production. In the first couple of weeks or so, I was feeding Dae at around ten to twelve times a day.
4. Antibodies in my milk protect your baby against problems with GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT and RESPIRATORY SYSTEM.
The antibodies I pass on to our baby through breast milk make for better gastrointestinal and respiratory health. Babies who are breastfed are five times less likely to have a gastrointestinal problem such as diarrhea, and three times less likely to have a respiratory illness such as asthma or pneumonia. As a special bonus, breastfed babies have up to 50 percent fewer ear infections than formula drinkers. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests mothers breastfeed their infants for one year to reap the full benefits of breast milk — six months at the very least — and for as long as you and your child wish to continue.
5. Which foods should you avoid while breastfeeding? SPICY FOODS and CRUCIFEROUS VEGETABLES SUCH AS CABBAGE AND BROCCOLI
Though some babies do react to these foods — spicy foods change the taste of Mama’s milk, raw cruciferous veggies such as cabbage can give a baby gas, or a baby could be allergic to dairy products — each baby is different. And I am thankful that I am not having a problem like this with our baby. Eliminate these items from your diet ONLY if you notice that your baby refuses to feed or becomes colicky after a feeding when you have eaten any of these.
6. While breastfeeding, how many eight-ounce glasses of water should you drink a day? EIGHT
Drinking plenty of water is one of the most important things I can do while breastfeeding — it helps my body keep up the milk supply. Juices are a fine alternative but I keep caffeinated drinks to a minimum — they’re diuretics and cause a breastfeeding Mom to lose fluids.
To recap….
Why breastfeed?
~ Breastfeeding provides many nutritional and health benefits to our baby. The protein in breast milk “kick-starts” a baby’s immune system.
~ There are over 100 nutritional components of breast milk not found in formula that are especially beneficial, including: cholesterol, an important component of brain tissue and the biochemical basis for many enzymes in the body; and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is important for a baby’s brain function and visual and auditory development
~ Breast milk delivers passive and active antibodies to all of the diseases the mother has been exposed to.
~ It is an ecologically sound choice as the production and packaging of infant formulas takes a heavy toll on the earth’s resources.
~Breastfeeding moms claim that it could also help lose the excess weight gained from pregnancy.
~ And it’s economical too.
Breastfeeding is the best choice for our baby, a gift showing my love for my dear child… a special bond and fulfillment that only a Mom can give… and the results & memories will last for a lifetime. :)
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10:05 PM, Tuesday, July 1st 2008
HAPPY HAPPY 100 DAYS OLD LITTLE PRINCESS DAE.
MAMA & DADDY LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH. :)
~o~0~o~
