Wonders of breastfeeding

Seeing a child nursing makes one so appreciative of how well the human body is designed so that breastfeeding gives the child nourishment while at the same time fostering the loving bond between the mother and the child.

Initially you will see this in the way the baby learns to love the breast. I can remember when my baby first learned to smile. The very first times he smiled, he did so when he saw the beloved breast being dug out of the shirt for him to feed on!

Breast is the central focal point of your baby's life. It is NOT just a food source but a source of comfort and security. It is soft and warm to feel and to baby's mouth, which a bottle certainly isn't. Baby feels safe and secure at Mommy's breast. All nursing mothers can vouch for the fact how well breastfeeding calms down a fussy baby. Breast is baby's natural pacifier and 'security blanket'.

Breastfeeding is a natural way of bonding with your child. Nursing and holding the child close causes the brain to release a hormone-like substance called oxytocin. Its release is especially pronounced with skin-to-skin contact. This hormone has been called the "love hormone" or the "cuddle hormone" or the "bonding hormone". It provides a sense of calm and well being and helps the mother and child to bond together. It is involved in those mothering feelings we experience after giving birth to a child. (Oxytocin does NOT make breastfeeding a sexual experience as some erroneously believe.)

Breastmilk contains a wonderful hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK), which induces sleepiness, both in the baby and the mother. It is the easiest method to put your child to sleep.

Also, while nursing, the child will usually get much more skin-to-skin contact with Mommy - and that can make a difference in how well your baby grows. Studies show how premature infants grow much better if they are massaged and touched a lot by a human hand, and the same surely applies to babies born at term.
Yet one more benefit of breastfeeding is that the suckling motion helps develop babies' lungs. The sheer physical effort involved in nursing may leave babies with better lung function well into childhood, as found by research.

These good points won't cease at 6 months or at one year. To many people in the US, the idea of a 2-year-old toddler climbing into Mommy's lap and asking to nurse is a foreign and uncomfortable concept. But to the mothers who do it, breastfeeding a toddler is a natural and healthy part of raising children. Nursing can help your child during any kind of emotional upsets or family crises, or just simply through teething. And if we are to believe our children, toddlers (who can talk) invariably appreciate breastfeeding.