We live in a bottle feeding society. Many mother’s not only find bottle feeding more convenient, they have also been led to believe that feeding formula is somehow better for them and their baby. This information is flat out wrong. The benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby generally far outweigh any risks or problems you may face.

The most obvious and also most numerous benefits from breastfeeding are to the baby directly from breast milk. No only does breast milk contain the exact nutritional requirements for your baby, it has numerous other positives as well, including:

* Boosts the immune system. Most of the immunities a baby has comes from the mother’s breast milk. Not only does the milk in general contain materials to help fight infection, it is actually tailored to what the mother is exposed to (i.e. what the baby is probably exposed to). This means your child gets custom protection from the diseases they face. Not only do breastfed babies get sick less, they are also less likely to develop immune disorders or allergy related diseases, including asthma.

* Helps proper physical development. Breastfed babies gain more weight than formula fed babies at the beginning, but that tapers off. Studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to be obese.

* Helps proper mental development. Breast milk helps to keep babies in a more alert state, which contributes to proper brain development.

While you may consider bottle feeding breast milk, you should be aware that the simple act of breast feeding also has benefits to your child, including:

* Increased bonding. Being close and connected to your child makes them feel safer with you and bond to you more.

* Promotes good oral health. Not only does breastfeeding prevent bottle tooth decay, it could also keep your child from having to wear braces in the future.

* Improves hand eye coordination. This is especially true if you switch sides and positions regularly.

In addition to being beneficial to your baby, breastfeeding can provide benefits to you as well, including:

* Less Hemorrhaging. Mothers who formula feed have to be given medicine after birth to shrink the uterus and prevent dangerous hemorrhaging. Nursing mother’s produce this chemical naturally.

* Less stress. Breast feeding has been shown to decrease the incidence of illness in babies. Dealing with a healthy baby is much easier than having to deal with a sick baby.

* Birth control. Consistent breast feeding has been shown to be effective in preventing ovulation. This effect may also help prevent breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.

* Weight loss. Producing breast milk burns up a lot of calories. Mothers who nurse have been shown to take off the pregnancy weight faster.
* Increased bonding. In addition to helping your baby bond with you, breastfeeding produces hormones that help you bond better with your baby.

While breastfeeding is usually best, there are some instances where formula may be the better choice. The first of these is if you test positive for diseases that can be transmitted through breast milk. You should talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breast feeding in these cases. The second reason for bottle feeding is if you take certain medications of illegal drugs. Again, you should speak to your doctor in this situation.

Overall, breastfeeding can be a rewarding and beneficial experience for you and your baby.

Over the last few years there has been a resurgence in the number of mothers that are breastfeeding their babies.  Research is showing that the natural way of breastfeeding is actually the best way.  Unfortunately, there are a number of misconceptions and confusion that causes many mothers to give up on breastfeeding before they even get started.  Milk supply is at the top of those issues.

Having a good milk supply is important to the new baby, but there is no real way to judge what that milk supply is when you are breastfeeding.  The size of the breast or the length of time the baby feeds is no real indication of the amount of milk available or ingested.  The only real measurement is the weight gained by the baby (and maybe the number of wet diapers each day). 

The best way to ensure that there is an adequate milk supply is to breastfeed every time from the first feeding on.  Breastfeeding on demand (or any time that the baby is HUNGRY) will not only keep the milk supply steady, but it will help to increase it as the baby needs more milk. 

It may also take a few weeks for the baby to settle into a normal pattern when first coming home. In the beginning, your baby may require up to twelve feeds in one day. Eventually she will settle into a pattern and you will be more comfortable about understanding her needs. After the initial period, it is not unusual to nurse your baby up to eight times a day (sometimes even more) with on-demand feeding.  Keep in mind that your baby will need more milk during growth spurts, so you may have periods where the on-demand feedings increase beyond the pattern that you and your baby have settled into. 

The key to settling in to a comfortable on-demand pattern is to learn how to recognize the cues your baby gives off (sucking on her hand, becoming more aware, squirming towards the breast) before she starts crying.  Crying can make it harder for her to latch on properly and can cause her to have more gas.

Feeding on demand can be supplemented with pumping if necessary.  Pump at times when your breasts feel engorged, start leaking or when you are feeding the baby on the other breast.  You will be able to produce more milk that can then be refrigerated or frozen for the times when your husband or children want the blessing of bonding with the new baby.  (Do not use bottled milk for at least six weeks so that the baby can settle in to the breastfeeding).

Some things that can hinder your milk production:

- Lack of sleep
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Dehydration
- Inadequate nutrition
- Supplementing breastfeed with formula feedings

No matter how long you stay with the on-demand breastfeeding, or even if you choose that direction for you and your baby, keep in mind that any time you spend breastfeeding your baby will be beneficial to her growth and development.

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