Welcome to Breastfeeding Tips

What Causes tooth decay?

Dental decay (caries) is caused by bacteria that live in plaque on the teeth. A tooth is essentially a hollow piece of bone with an enamel cap. Enamel is just like glass, so when acid meets glass, the glass is etched. The same process occurs in the mouth. Bacteria eats sugar that pass through the mouth and makes acid. Acid then etches the tooth surface a little at a time until the enamel is penetrated. Thus, a cavity is formed.

Immunity

The immunities in breast milk have been shown to increase in concentration as the baby gets older and nurses less, so older babies still receive lots of immune factors.

Nutritional Content of Breastmilk in the Second Year

In the second year of life, 500ml of breastmilk provides: 95% of Vitamin C requirements, 45% of Vitamin A requirements,38% of protein requirements,31% of energy requirements.

Ovarian Cancer

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of ovarian cancer.

Weight Loss

Breastfeeding moms tend to lose weight more easily.

Is breastfeeding during pregnancy possible?

Nursing while pregnant is very possible and not that uncommon, especially in other, less "developed" countries.

Fertility

Extended nursing delays the return of fertility in some women by suppressing ovulation.

Comfort

Nursing past infancy helps babies & toddlers make a gradual transition to childhood. Breastfeeding is a warm and loving way to meet the needs of toddlers and young children. It helps to soothe the frustrations, bumps, and daily stresses of early childhood.

Endometrial Cancer

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of endometrial cancer.

Diabetes

Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease insulin requirements in diabetic women.

The WHO´s View of Extended Breastfeeding

The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of nursing up to two years of age or beyond.

Osteoperosis

Breastfeeding protects against osteoporosis. During lactationm a mother may experience decreases of bone mineral. A nursing mom´s bone mineral density may be reduced in the whole body by 1%-2% while she is still nursing. This is gained back, and bone mineral density may actually increase, when the baby is weaned from the breast. This is not dependent on additional calcium supplementation in the mother´s diet.

Illness

Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers.

More nutritional Benefits of Breastmilk in the Second Year

Breastmilk remains a valuable source of protein, fat, calcium, and vitamins well beyond two years of age.

Social Development

One study that dealt specifically with babies nursed longer than a year showed a significant link between the duration of nursing and mothers´ and teachers´ ratings of social adjustment in 6-8 year old children. In the words of the researchers, "There are statistically significant tendencies for conduct disorder scores to decline with increasing duration of breastfeeding."

Breast Cancer

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer.

What Can I Do?

One way to prevent dental caries is to brush your baby´s teeth twice a day to loosen plaque and after every nursing, wipe her teeth down with a dry cloth.
If your child has a history of dental caries, then a topical fluoride can be applied.

Intelligence

Extensive research on the relationship between cognitive achievement (IQ scores, grades in school) and breastfeeding has shown the greatest gains for those children breastfed the longest.

Independence

Meeting a child´s dependency needs, according to that child´s unique timetable, is the key to helping that child achieve independence. Children who achieve independence at their own pace are more secure in that independence then children forced into independence prematurely.