Friday Facts - Breastfeeding

For this edition of Friday Facts, I've decided to focus on breastfeeding. There are two main reasons for this: #1, August is National Breastfeeding Month; and #2, I'm ashamed of my home state of Kentucky for not standing up for the rights of breastfeeding mothers.

Yesterday at a McDonald's in Berea, Kentucky, a breastfeeding mother was asked to leave the restaurant because she was nursing her 4 month old son. I'm appalled at law enforcement and the McDonald's Corporation; no wonder Kentucky ranks 50th when it comes to pro-breastfeeding states!

Breastfeeding Facts:

--Breastfeeding will help your uterus shrink back to prepregnancy size more quickly, which will in turn reduce the flow of lochia (postpartum discharge) more rapidly. (Clapclapbaby.com)

--Breastfeeding may lower a child's blood pressure later in life. (Breastfeeding.com)

--Breast-fed babies have fewer gastrointestinal infections. (Medline Plus)

--Babies who are breastfed have fewer illnesses and are better nourished than those who are fed other drinks and foods. (Unicef.org)

--Reduces exposure to harmful chemicals in plastic nipples and bottles. (The Labor of Love)

--Breastfeeding reduces a mother's risk of breast, ovarian, cervical and uterine cancer. (The Labor of Love)

--Breastfeeding gives infants all the nutrients they need for healthy development. It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses - such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, the two primary causes of child mortality worldwide. (WHO International)

--Breastfed babies have a lower risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). (ISDH)

--Human milk contains just the right amount of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids for human digestion, brain development, and growth. (FDA)

--Human milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. No babies are allergic to their mother's milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. (FDA)

--Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula. (Women's Health)

--Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies. (Baby Center)


As a former breastfeeder of three children, my hat's off to all breastfeeding moms and their babies.