Importance of Breastfeeding to the Mother (Part 2)

I apologize if I haven’t been quite clear on my previous posting on “Importance of Breastfeeding to the Mother”. What I mean to say is “The Benefits of Breastfeeding to the Mother”. I quote something from Annie Lennox & Aretha Franklin:

“Sisters are doin' it for themselves.

Standin' on their own two feet.

And ringin' on their own bells.

Sisters are doin' it for themselves.”

YES LADIES, Its time for us to shout out demanding something for us. Its time to be selfish.

We moms and wives tend to turn into this selfless creature wanting and providing the best love and care to our family. This is not a negative thing, however we all know that at times it can get to the best or the worse of us. We might feel happy or frustrated. We might not need that “Thank you, Sayang” or “I Love you, Mama”, but we know we do need to feel appreciated at times. I don’t blame anyone for this. Most of the times I blame on the hormones. :D Hormones slalu buat kita moody and fikir benda negative.

So do you know, what is the best way to over come these feelings?

How about we start to change our perspective? How about we start to see our role as a wife and mother as something we have to do to be a great and superior woman. We are not just that great woman behind that great man.

We are that Wonderful Lady who can do many wonderous stuff that no other people can do. But we don't do it for them, we are doing it for ourselves!

And so, my previous posting is suppose to invoke that breastfeeding is not just to provide the best nutrition for our child. We shouldn't view as just that, while each day we enslave ourselves to the routine of breastmilk expressing at work or juggling between chores while breastfeeding our child.

It should be something more meaningful to us ladies because it is far more meaningful than just that.

Breastfeeding does have psychological and health impact on us.

But like what I said in my previous posting, not much research has been on on this topic. Most current literature available these days mainly discuss about the nutritional benefit to the child.

Its kinda unfair, isn’t it? The one who is providing the milk only gets to know more on the “best stuff about breastmilk” but not really on the benefit she is getting by trying to produce the milk.

Seriously, after thinking about the pains of breastfeeding, “afterpains” (pains that occur when a hormone is released from what is left of your brain and the milk letdown process begins. This hormone also stimulates your uterus to contract back to its pre-pregnant shape), crack nipple, engorgement, backpains from hours of breastfeeding, occasional blocked milk duct, routine milk expressing, lack of sleep or rest and many more (coz if i list it out, penuh la my blog nnt), how many women would brave it and breastfeed with all their heart, right?

So what is it in return we get from breastfeeding? For me:

1) Bonding- Production of oxytocin during lactation increases parasympathetic activity, thus reducing anxiety and theoretically fostering bonding, so it is generally understood that maternal oxytocin circulation can predispose women to form bonds and show bonding behaviour.Breastfeeding is also strongly believed to foster the early post-partum maternal bond, via touch, response, and mutual gazing. I was so scared tau when I first held Miya. But, breastfeeding helps me to bravely march into motherhood.

2) Voluptuous Boobies- I increased from A cup to B cup and on occasions to C. Boosted my body image confidence a bit.

3) Loss "after-baby" weight dramatically, but later gain proper me weight.

4) Increased of appetite- Healthy increase to my body weight, yet controllable. So proper calorie intake and usage, unlike before, where I am so skinning that my cousins keep on making fun of me “budak afrika g malnutri, weight problem, budak kecacingan).

5) Menstruation – I feel like my uterus cleans better.

6) Mood swings – 50-70% less than before baby...LOL.

7) Estrogens issues- Vaa vaa voom sex drive. Happy & No complains.

8) Self-confidence – Increased. Proudly carrying around breastpump to work, public breastfeeding, expressing yourself, thinking out loud and many more.

9) Cancer- My family do have a long line history of cancer. Knowing that breastfeeding does lower risk for certain type of cancer, it does give me a certain confort.

10) Friendship- I found lots of friends through breastfeeding support forum & blogs.

I do know that there are more reasons and benefit that breastfeeding gives me, but I can’t think of any more right now. Like I said before, I need to do more reading on this from research papers & literature so that we mommies will feel much more worth it in our mission to breastfeed our child.

Anyway....after reading my previous posting and this posting, I would really want to know on how u feel about what breastfeeding has done for you?

As for me, I am shouting "I breastfeed my baby for her benefit and MINE too!!"

(psst..its ok to be selfish on this issue)