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Home › Articles › Breast is Best › What About Mom?

What About Mom?

Breastfeeding Benefits Aren't Just for Baby

By Abbi Perets

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Depending on where you give birth, you might receive free formula samples when you check out of the hospital. Remember how your father taught you there's no such thing as a free lunch? Well, he was right. Next time you're in the grocery store, pick up a box of powdered formula and try not to faint when you see just how expensive it is. Don't even look at the ready-to-pour liquids unless you're sitting down. Just like cosmetics companies "give" you a "free gift" if you buy $1,000,000 worth of products, formula companies are in this for the money. By nursing your baby, you'll save yourself fistfuls of money to the tune of $1,500 to $3,000 in the first year, depending on which formula you pass up so go wild at the Clinique counter instead.

Energy Benefits
Another "side effect" of breastfeeding is increased energy. You won't need to wash any bottles, for one thing. And you'll be forced to stop washing the floors or folding the laundry if your baby is hungry. Find a comfortable spot on the couch or the bed, grab a magazine and a glass of water and relax while your baby nurses. It's perfectly acceptable to send your husband to bring you necessities such as the phone, the remote control, pizza and ice cream. You can also say things like, "Oh, I really would clean the bathroom, but I can't right now. You'll do it, right, honey?"

Reproductive Benefits
Breastfeeding women usually experience a delay in the return of their menstrual cycle. Try not to cry too loudly at the thought of not having to deal with tampons, pads or birth control. Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM) the delayed return of menses as a result of breastfeeding has been proven to be 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy for the first six months of nursing. To get the full benefits of LAM, you must be exclusively breastfeeding (which means feeding on demand, nursing at night and refraining from using supplements of any kind). Not getting your period means you'll have higher concentrations of iron in your blood, which also leaves you feeling more energetic and reduces your risk of anemia.

Bonding Benefits
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