BOOBALICIOUS

• Along with all the moans and groans that pregnancy brings, it has its, shall we say "perks" lol. Baby boobs are awesome- especially when you had none to speak of before. :)
  Hey, if Alba can flaunt them proudly (mind you, I am no SUPASTAR and I’ll probably never make it to the Oscars)…
  Which brings us to the topic of the hour: Breastfeeding.
  I have been thinking about it a lot and I have almost talked myself into it but as natural as it is, it seems strangely unnatural to me. I’m weird I know. Here I am thinking, ok, I will do it but straight from breast to pump- no suckling here. LOL.
  I mean little Caden Alexander (a.k.a Alex P. Keaton, nee Chad jr.) deserves the best start in life, doesn’t he? I keep hearing- It’s like gold for babies and according to Christy Lou I am a bad mommy if I don’t…lol well she didn’t actually say that but that’s what she meant lol. She is definitely one of the staunchest supporters.
  So, among some of the many, many reasons to give it a try- here are some of the more personally motivational ones (however selfish some may be):
  
  
• "Breastfed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease. About 80% of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Breastfed babies are protected in varying degrees from a number of illnesses including, pneumonia, botulism, bronchitis, staphylococcal infections, influenza, ear infections, and German measles. Furthermore, mothers produce antibodies to what ever disease is present in their environment, making their milk custom-designed to fight diseases their babies are exposed to as well." [I am immune from Rubella (chicken pox) not sure if that counts.]
• Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q. [I want my baby to be smarter than the average bear]
  Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection. [less diarrhea sounds good to me :) ]
• The uterus of the non-breastfeeding mother will never shrink back to its pre-pregnant size. It will always remain slightly enlarged. "Nursing will help you to regain your figure more quickly, since the process of lactation causes the uterus (which has increased during pregnancy to about 20 times its normal size) to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size. "
• Many studies have shown that women who breastfeed have lower risks of developing breast cancer
• Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs and increases bonding between mother and baby. All babies need to be held. There is no more comforting feeling for an infant of any age than being held close and cuddled while breastfeeding. In fact, studies have shown that premature babies are more likely to die if they are not held or stroked.
• Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin in the mother's body. "It is now well established that oxytocin, as well as stimulating uterine contractions and milk ejection, promotes the development of maternal behavior and also bonding between mother and offspring."
  
• Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer
  
• Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is bornBreastfeeding requires an average of 500 extra calories per day and breastfeeding mothers who eat a normal diet lose the extra weight they gained during pregnancy faster than moms who choose to bottle feed. In one study, mothers who breastfed exclusively or partially had significantly larger reductions in hip circumference and were less above their pre-pregnancy weights at 1 month postpartum than mothers who fed formula exclusively. Other studies have also shown that women who were overweight when they began their pregnancies can safely get closer to their ideal weight by breastfeeding in conjunction with a moderate exercise program.
  
• Formula feeding increases risk of children developing diabetes
  
• Baby's suckling helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage in motherNursing her baby causes the mother's body to release oxytocin, which stimulates contractions which help shrink the uterus back to pre-pregnancy size while expelling the placenta. These contractions also shut off the maternal blood vessels that formerly fed the baby and discourage excessive bleeding. Women who choose not to breastfeed must be given synthetic oxytocin to insure against hemorrhaging.
  
• Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies
  
• Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma
  
• Formula feeding increases baby's risk of otitis media (ear infections)
  
• Formula feeding may increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
  
• Breastfeeding protects baby against diarrheal infections
  
• Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis
  
  
  And on and on ( if you want to read more: http://www.promom.org/101/ )
  Oh and have I mentioned…IT’S FREE.
  
  We shall see…so while I am googling “will my breasts sag”…lol check this out-
  
  This is soooooo weird….
  http://www.lightparty.com/Health/10ReasonsToBreastfeed.html
  
  No way in hell could I do that for 6 years!