Breastfeeding provides all sorts of wonderful nutrients and antibodies to our teeny miracles. Most of us have been schooled by our doctors, midwives, or even televisions why breastfeeding, if you are able, is the best choice for feeding our babies.
Breastfeeding also provides a bonding experience between mom and baby. The bonding experience from breastfeeding is like none other. There is nothing sweeter than gazing down at your little nursling and thinking about how your baby thrives because of you!”
Research has shown that it can diminish the risk of certain cancers for mom as well, which is just another great reason to give breastfeeding a try!
But did you know that it’s also a very eco-friendly choice? That’s right, breastfeeding is not only the healthiest option for baby (and mom), but is also planet friendly!
Here are the top reasons why breastfeeding is eco-friendly:
1. Conserves Resources. Rightfully so, formula must meet strict government standards and goes through a mutlti-step process to become what infants need. This process uses land, energy, and water. Making breastmilk is much simpler and cheaper! Mom simply needs to consume enough calories and fluids to maintain a milk supply. Approximately 500 calories in addition to a normal diet are recommended.
2. Reduces Use of Fuel. If you don’t buy formula there is a lower demand so fewer containers will be stocked in store. Therefore, there is less transport of the formula needed. In addition since you won’t need to run out to buy formula you will be saving fuel.
3. Reduces Amount of Waste. The production of breastmilk releases no toxins unless you count Jr.’s bowel movement. But even then breastfed baby poo is water soluble. Formula packaging and shipping boxes contribute to the amount of waste in landfills. If baby goes through eight 12 ounce cans of formula per month, you would throw away 96 empty containers during his first year of life. That’s for ONE child!
4. It’s natural! Of course you have to account for toxins mom might ingest, but a woman who monitors her intake (by eating Organic, for example) would pass on very few chemicals to her baby. No worries about whether your formula contains jet fuel or that your baby bottles are leaching BPA. Did you know that formula cans can leach BPA too?
5. Less Cleaning. If baby is fed directly from the breast there’s nothing to wash (except maybe a few dribbles of milk off the chin). If the average baby takes 5 bottles per day you would wash approximately 1,800 in baby’s first year of life.
Feeding baby is all about what works best for baby and mom. Breastfeeding can be quite difficult especially for new moms, so a good support system is a tremendous help! Some babies latch on and it’s easy but this is not always the case.
I had my share of issues with Poot including poor latch, cracked and bleeding nipples, overactive letdown, hindmilk/foremilk imbalance, vasospasm, and never ending thrush. To top it off he had reflux and was a spitter. However, we stuck it out and breastfed for 19 months! The second time around has been so much easier for me.
The reason I made it through such a rough experience is because of support. I recommend first time moms (or first time breastfeeders) take a class and get involved with your local La Leche League or other breastfeeding support group while pregnant. Friends and family that have breastfed are also an amazing resource.
Breastfeeding is an amazing experience and any troubles that occur in the beginning seem minuscule.
Guest Bio: Jacqie is the blogger behind Tales of the Wife, a blog about one woman’s journey to becoming a domestic goddess and being more green!