World Breastfeeding Week

This week is World Breastfeeding Week. While I only actually breastfed both girls briefly (we had issues latching and when Greg went back to work I had to make a choice for my sanity), I have successfully pumped and given them breast milk for almost two months now. I've said I'm going to quit 3 or 4 or 10 times now but haven't had the heart to do it. I'm able to produce enough milk that the girls only usually have one to two formula bottles a day, which I'm proud of. At this point I'm going to continue until I return to work in three and a half weeks and we will see what happens from there.

Benefits of breastfeeding for babies:

* Because of the protective substances in human milk, breastfed children are less likely to have ear infections, allergies, vomiting, diarrhea, pneumonia, wheezing & meningitis.
* Research also suggests that breastfeeding may help to protect against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
* It is easier for babies to digest.
* It does not need to be prepared.
* It costs nothing to make and is always in supply.

There are also many health benefits for mom because breastfeeding does the following:

* Burns more calories and helps return to prepregnancy weight more quickly.
* Reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and, in premenopausal women, breast cancer.
* Builds bone strength to protect against bone fractures in older age.
* Helps the uterus return to its regular size quickly.