Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a tool, gift, and experience that a lot of mothers disregard, overlook and dismiss. This paper is aimed at proving the significance of this vital act of love. Breastfeeding not only provides vital nutrients, it also fosters many health, economic and emotional benefits. The advantages of breast milk will clearly outweigh any inconvenience some may complain of. Breast milk alone can provide all the nutrients a child needs until it is six months old with no other supplements needed. Human milk provides the perfect balance of nutrition, proteins, and hormones needed for a baby. It cannot be replicated by any other substance such as soy milks or formulas. Since breast milk is made specifically …show more content…
Since physical contact is important for newborns, breastfeeding is perfect. It helps them feel more secure, comforted and warm. Moms also tend to relax and enjoy some quiet close times with their children. (womenshealth.gov, 2013) Having a newborn can be quite stressful and slowing down to take the time to hold your baby close and nurse skin to skin has quite the soothing effect for mothers. Nursing stimulates the production of Oxytocin, which lets the milk flow and calms the mother. While formula feeding moms still bond with their children, the closeness that mother and baby receive while nursing is far more than any bottle can provide. We have been the product of an on the go society. Everything is made to go fast fast fast. Unfortunately, our children have fell victim to this phenomena also. A lot of mothers sacrifice the bonds provided by breastfeeding for the convenience of a bottle.
As mentioned earlier, breastfeeding can also benefit society. A nation could avoid 1000 deaths per year if 90 percent of mothers chose to breastfeed exclusively for at least six months. Also, we could save approximately $13 billion per year with less medical cost because breastfed babies tend to be healthier. (womenshealth.gov, 2013) With healthier children, moms would have to miss less work because of taking off for sick children. Society also can reap the rewards of less waste if more mothers breastfed. There would be less plastic waste from bottles and bottle