8 Things You Might Not Know About Baby Breastfeeding

When it comes to baby breastfeeding, everyone from your mother to your best friend has some kind of experience to share. However, there are a lot of things that even they might not have ever heard about breastfeeding. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at eight such things that nobody tells you about nursing.

Knowing these things ahead of time will not only help you understand a little bit more about baby breastfeeding but also will make your nursing experience as smooth and comfortable as possible. Here's what you need to know!

A Mother's Milk is so healthy:

This is the main reason why doctors recommend you feed your newborn only the breast milk until he is at least six months old. Containing the right blend of nutrients like vitamins, proteins, sugars, minerals, antibodies and fats, breast milk not only gives babies the best possible start in life but also provides them with a protective shield to fight against diseases like cancer, asthma, etc.

Breastfeeding Burns a Lot of Calories:

You won't believe but nursing burns about 400 to 500 calories a day, which is about the same as walking up to seven miles. According to nutrition experts, an ounce of breast milk contains about 20-22 calories. That means, if your little one feeds 20 ounces a day, you’ll need to eat an extra 400-500 calories to keep your breast milk supply up.

An Improper Latch Hurts:

All mothers know how to breastfeed but not every mother knows the art of getting a healthy breastfeeding latch. As a new mum, breastfeeding can be painful for you at first, but only for a few seconds. If the pain persists, it simply means your infant isn't properly latched on to your breast. To correct your baby's latch, you can take advantage of a nursing pillow that provides enough support to your baby’s head during breastfeeding.

Bigger Breasts Doesn’t Mean More Milk:

Nursing moms spend a lot of time worrying that “the amount of milk they produce is affected by the size of their breasts”. However, the reality is exactly opposite. When it comes to milk production, size of your breasts really doesn't matter. What matter the most are Mammary glands, which produce milk and are located inside a female's breasts. That means, even a woman with smaller breasts can produce the proper amount of milk.

Breast Milk Changes Color and Flavor:

If you’re a breastfeeding mum, you might have noticed that your breast milk doesn’t look the same every day. That's because breast milk is dynamic and perfectly tailored to meet all the nutritional needs of your growing baby. Even, whatever you eat also affects the taste of your breast milk to a large extent. So next time, think before you eat any food!

Breastfeeding Reduces Your Risk of Cancer:

The more you breastfeed, the lesser you are at the risk of developing certain types of cancer, including breast, uterine and ovarian cancer. According to researchers, women who breastfeed have very low levels of estrogen (the hormone that controls a woman’s sexual and reproductive development) in their body, which proves extremely beneficial in preventing breast and ovarian cancer. On the other hand, if you nurse longer than one year, you have a lower risk of developing breast cancer later in life.

Baby Breastfeeding Saves Money:

Depending on which brand of formula you use, the cost of formula-feeding can range anywhere between $100-400 per month. That's $1,200 to $4,800 in one year! But if you breastfeed, you can save up to $400 a year. That's even if you buy a breast pump and other feeding supplies like bottles. And above all these things, baby breastfeeding saves you from running to the store to pick up a canister of formula.

Breastfeeding in Public is Legal:

If you often avoid breastfeeding in a public place just because you’re worried about what others will think of you, you’re doing injustice to your baby. Baby breastfeeding in a public is completely legal and most of the people don’t even care about it. However, to feel more secure, comfortable and confident while breastfeeding in public, you must take advantage of a nursing cover. If someone still minds, just ask him to leave!