August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month

First let me start saying that Fed is Best. Regardless if you are able to breastfeed, the most important thing is being able to provide the baby with nutritious food. I would never shame anyone for choosing formula over breastfeeding. You know your body and you know what is best for your child and your family.

Did you know that on August 6, 2011, the USBC officially declared August as National Breastfeeding Month?

​National Breastfeeding Awareness Month is a breastfeeding campaign funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with the hope of empowering women to commit to breastfeeding.  Research shows that babies that are exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life are less likely to develop ear infections, diarrhea and respiratory illnesses, and may be less likely to develop childhood obesity.

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• More than half a billion working women are not given essential maternity protections in national laws
• Just 20% of countries require employers to provide employees with paid breaks and facilities for breastfeeding or expressing milk
• Fewer than half of infants under 6 months of age are exclusively breastfed.

When my son was born I was looking forward to the connection and bond that breastfeeding was going to create. Coming from Colombia, formula wasn't really a popular thing back then. I started breastfeeding and after a few weeks, my son decided that he didn't want to do that anymore. I worked with a lactation consultant and my doctor, and after a lot of ty this, try that, I decided that I was going to breastfeed in a different way. Instead of going thru the pain and struggles with my son, I was pumping the milk and giving it to him in a bottle. He was happy, I was happy, everyone was happy.

But pumping isn't the same, so my milk supply wasn't great and we did had to supplement with formula after a while. 
I hope this story helps mothers to understand, that although studies do show breast milk is great for kids, you do what is best for you and your baby. Don't let anyone shame you for either breastfeeding or for formula feeding.

I want to promote breastfeeding as long as it works for you! 

If you decide to breastfeed, get help from the nurses and lactation consultant at the hospital. Make sure to get a high quality pump to help you storage some food for the future (you can freeze breast milk for a few months), and make sure that you listen to your body. 

A good resource to check out is www.healthyhorizons.com/