Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is such a personal choice.  For some the benefits to both mother and child are determining factors as to whether or not one will try.  I grew up knowing that my mother breastfed me and my brothers and, as I started having children I knew the benefits and that I wanted to be able to do the same with my children.  I had no idea that it would be such hard work.  It seemed like such a natural process, how could it be difficult.  My son was born about two weeks late and hungry from the get go.  He immediately latched on and I was so relieved that it seemed to be just that easy.  Well, we went home and he kept eating but I was not producing.  I remember one night being so exhausted and he seemed so frustrated.   I ended up only nursing for about three months and would supplement in between our feedings to try and keep up.  My daughter came along about 14 months later and I again knew that I would try.  All was good until she hit her first growth spurt and then I just wasn’t producing enough.  Five years later and preparing on my third to be born, I am again going into the birth knowing that I want to give this just one more shot.  The benefits that I can provide my baby and myself far outweigh the hard work and possible frustrations.  I want to prepare myself this time and educate myself on how to properly breastfeed and I plan on taking a class at the hospital that I will deliver at.  I feel like even though it is my third child the more I know the better prepared I will be.

BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING:

1.)    Bonding that occurs between mother and child

2.)    Nutritional value of “mother’s milk”

3.)    Cost saving

4.)    Health Benefits for both child and mother

http://www.womenshealth.gov/Breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=227

Controversial topic of breastfeeding in public

Breastfeeding in public can cause quite a stir of emotions.  I personally was not one to nurse in public however was also not ever offended to see another mother who was comfortable to do so.  Recently in Taiwan a new law was passed allowing mothers to breastfeed in public settings and created a fine that would be charged to anyone who tried to stop this from happening.  “Under the new rule, anyone attempting to prevent breastfeeding in public will face a fine of up to 30,000 Taiwan dollars (990 US dollars), according to the Department of Health.”

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hMHUnypnaJRSUKzzA7orycOCjrPg?docId=CNG.9cffc4fdf846d8715d7cc1b4f8a701a3.51

I personally feel that this new law passed in Taiwan is a giant step forward.  The idea behind the law is to show respect for nursing mothers.  I believe it is an act that can be done in a nonintrusive way.  Most mothers I have seen have kept themselves pretty well covered, and I guess I too would be surprised to see a mother with a fully exposed breast nursing in public but she is feeding her infant.  After all we just passed a law allowing individuals to carry concealed weapons in bars.  Could public breastfeeding really be that bad?