Benefits of Breastfeeding

Mothers can be very serious about choosing to breastfeed or bottle feed a baby. This hot topic has great arguments for both sides of the discussion. Many claim that the majority of the benefits of breastfeeding can be achieved by diligent bottle feeding mothers and choose to avoid the unpleasant side effects of breastfeeding. Mothers who breastfeed swear that the benefits of breastfeeding are unique and worth the costs. With this in mind, let's take a humorous look at some of the not so pleasant aspects of breastfeeding.

One great perk of breastfeeding is that you get to wear sexy, easy access, nursing clothes. Most nursing clothes are designed to allow your infant easy access to the breast. This feature is a great convenience, but it also can lead to inadvertent breast flashes in public if your nursing clothes are not properly secured after feeding your infant. If you find people following you around while out in public, check your shirt.

You get to join the stylish trend of baby wearing. Breast fed infants often nurse more frequently than bottle fed infants. This can lead to the feeling that your child is always attached to your breast. Baby wearing can be seen in malls, grocery stores and parks across the nation. Baby slings, swaths and holsters are sold that encourage a nursing mother to flaunt her baby wearing style. Some even offer anytime access to the breast- a very nice perk for the infant.

You also get to enjoy the experience of public breast feeding. There's nothing quite like attempting to discreetly nurse your infant by draping a blanket over your shoulder to provide a little privacy and having a curious stranger walk up and peek under the blanket to get a look at the adorable baby- and your exposed breast. Communities should hold public breastfeeding contests to see which mother has the best embarrassing story of breastfeeding in public. Some mothers take the natural approach to breastfeeding in public and let it all hang out- daring onlookers to stare and make snide comments. If you happen to encounter one of these women, do not confront them! They are hopped up on postpartum hormones, made cranky by sore breasts and are often sleep deprived from nursing their infant every two hours around the clock- they can be very dangerous!

This brings us to the classic sore nipples. There is just no other experience that compares to allowing a hungry infant to chomp, suck, chew and grab a breast that is plagued by bruised, cracked and sore nipples. No amount of prenatal education or coaching by the La Leche League can prepare you properly for sore nipples- it must be experienced to be appreciated.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful time of nurturing and bonding with your infant. It is also a lesson in balancing pain and humility with a little humour. The humorous benefits of breastfeeding cannot compare to the genuine benefits of breastfeeding for many mothers. Learning to take the unpleasant aspects of breastfeeding with a grain of humorous salt is part of the wonderful world of choosing to breastfeeding your infant.