The Other Full-Time Nursing Job

If by now you haven't realized, I'm a stay at home mom. I am not an RN. When I say nursing, I mean breastfeeding. And if you try to say something about breastfeeding not being comparable to an RN job... I've never been a nurse, but hours wise I'm pretty sure I work more hours.

I love breastfeeding. I'm sure some of that is that I was blessed to have a pretty easy time nursing. Part of that also is attributed to my natural lifestyle. Also, my frugality probably plays a role in that it's free. Yeah, sometimes I get tired of being needed every 2 hours and the only parent that can help, but then she latches on and I gaze into her eyes and I'm reminded how lucky I am to be the parent that gets to experience this.

Breastfmilk is so cool. When you learn about it, what God made our bodies to do, it's insane. Your breastmilk is not always the same. It subtly changes throughout meals, the day, and year to be exactly what your baby needs. The germs from your babies saliva on your breast are taken into your system and your breastmilk then produces the antibodies for any germ your child is exposed to. That's why you don't have to worry as much about breastfed babies getting sick, they have almost the same immune system you do. There are living cells in you breastmilk. It not only keeps bacteria and virus from growing or living in your childs system, it also has antinfectives. Colostrum, the first milk you produce, is even more concentrated with immunological properties. This is so that the baby is protected against all the germs he/she is suddently exposed to after birth. Breastmilk not only is good for the insides, but the outsides too! It can clear up an eye infection or any skin issue. I use it for her cradle cap, which already looks better after just one use, and diaper rash. I've also used it on my own acne and it cleared it up in 24 hours. My friend said she used them on her stretch marks and it helped fade them, I haven't tried that yet though.

Breastfeeding in general is cool. Your baby will nurse for a shorter time if he/she is just thirsty to get more foremilk which is less fatty and more watery. If he/she is hungry they'll nurse for longer to get that fatty hindmilk. Your supply is supply and demand. If your baby's going through a growth spurt, they'll nurse more. In return, your body produces more in the next 24 hour period. As the growth spurt plateaus, he/she will nurse less and your supply comes back down.

I could go on and on about the importance of breastfeeding. A lot of times you hear about the benefits of breastfeeding, but the thing is that is, or should be, the norm. Breastmilk doesn't give your child a higher IQ, it gives your child a normal IQ. Formula baby have an IQ deficiency. Formula companies purposely refer to breastmilk "benefits" like they're extra, but they're not extra. They're necesities. Your baby is lacking if they do not receive breastmilk. And yes, I'm sure some people will be offended and take that personally but the truth hurts sometimes. That doesn't mean you should be ashamed for formula feeding, some mothers honestly can't breastfeed, but that is rare. Most times people stop breastfeeding because of lack of education. They don't know that the problem they have can be fixed. Or they just don't realize how important breastfeeding is so they don't put in the effort and commitment it can require. You can't fault yourself for what you didn't know. What you can do though, is tell others. Tell future mothers, tell your children, and make changes for any future children you have.

Without breastmilk, your baby is at higher risk for ear infections, intestinal issues, and respirtory problems. In addition to this they're more likely to have allergies and dental issues. Without breastmilk, the vision, nerves, and intestines dont develope all the way and because of this, formula babys have completely different metabolism and different development. Formula babies and breastfed babies gain weight differently during the first year. The kidney and liver work harder to produce waste and the child will need more of any kind of medication to get the same effect. The immune response to vaccinations is also less effective and the SIDS risk is higher in formula babies. Formula has iron in it that a newborn can't readily use and so it incresases the risk of intestinal infection, intestinal bleeding, and anemia.

Later in life, they're more likely to develope Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers if not breastfed. He/she won't cope as well with stress and will have higher blood pressure as a child and an adullt than the person who was breastfed. There's also higher risk of obseity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and osteoporosis as an adult.

Not only is breastmilk integral for you baby's health, but also important for your baby's physical development. It allows the bones in the face and jaw to develope more fully. Snoring and breathing problems are more likely in formula babies. Babies who breastfeed for less than a year are more likely to need orthodontia work and baby's who don't breastfeed are more likely to need speech therapy.

Obviously this is not an "never/always" situation. All three of my siblings and myself were beastfed and 2/4 of us needed orthodontia work, 2/4 of us needed speech therapy, and one of us has Crohne's disease. That doesn't nigate the large increase in risks for formula babies.

Breastfeeding is not only an important part of your baby's health, but yours as well. If you don't breastfeed, you're more likely to get breast, uterine, and cervical cancer. The longer you breastfeed, the less at risk you are for those cancers. Right after you give birth, nursing causes your uterus to contract back to it's size. If you're not nursing you're more likely to have hemmoraging and your belly will stay larger longer. Usually, you will lose weight faster. It sort of slowely disipates over time between birth and when your child is eating solids, it's not an overnight thing. If you don't breastfeed, you're also more likely to have heart problems and diabetes. Osteoporosis and fractures are more common in women who never breastfed. You're more likely to get rheumotoid authoritis in later years and you'll have higher blood pressure.

I can't personally relate to struggles related to breastfeeding, and part of me feels guilty about that. I know many women do struggle and I don't want to discredit your experience but it is fixable and it can get better. The Womanly Art to Breastfeeding has an entire troubleshooting chapter for any issue you could possibly have. You can also join your local La Leche League for support and/or go to a lactation consultant. Don't give up! Nursing is such a wonderful experience I pray everyone can experience it. There's nothing quite like the feeling of supporting an entire life all with your body. It's beautiful to watch your baby gaze at you while they nurse.

Breastfeeding is so convenient. You don't have to wash bottles, mix up formula, warm up water, buy anything... You can do it anywhere and everywhere. It's also not just a tool for feeding your baby. It helps comort and relax them if they're upset, hurt, or scared. It will help put them to sleep. On an airplane, it keeps their ears from popping. I can't imagine having to get up at night to make a bottle. I barely wake up to breastfeed, that's a perk of co-sleeping. You'll have to check out my post on that next if you haven't already.

My goal is to breastfeed for at least 2.5 years. My goal was originally one year, until I researched breastfeeding. There was a study done on chimpanzees comparing their biological age indicators such as adult body size, length of gestation, timing of permanent tooth eruption, timing of sexual maturity and growth rates during childhood and mothers lactation period with human babies. It was found that children didn't get the weaning biological factors a chimpanzee did until 2.5-7 years of age. This is why my goal is at least 2.5 years. The CDC recommends breastfeeding for at least a year, and as long as mother and child are willing. Most other countries, including the WHO recommends at least 2 years. This does not mean your child is getting their only source of nutrients from breastmilk all that time. Toddlers usually just nurse when they're sick, for comfort when they get hurt, and/or before nap time. Like I said, my goal is 2.5 years but I hope to breastfeed until Stella weans herself. A lot of babies will go through a phase where they don't want to nurse around a year but then will return to it if you keep offering and encouraging them. My only concern is I hope to get pregnant at 12 months postpartum and being pregnant can tank your supply. Luckily, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding has a section on that as well! Plus I know women who have successfully breastfed through pregnancy then tandem fed I can go to for help and advice.