Personal Project: Using My Milk-Making Superpowers to Save the Planet

It is from a place of security, a place of being attached to baby and baby to parents, that a child can begin to attach to other people.” www.kellymom.com

I’ve come to the conclusion; one of the best ways to have a sustainable baby is to breast-feed.  I still have a lot to learn, but was amazed to learn that there are so many benefits

1. Nutritious!  Breast milk is specially formulated to meet all of your child’s nutritional needs.  The milk naturally evolves through different developmental stages so that it includes all the nutrients the baby requires at that stage.
2. Healthy Baby!  Moms pass along the antibodies they’ve gained from inoculations and sickness while they are breastfeeding.  Babies who are not breastfed have a 21% higher mortality rate than their breastfed counterparts.  Breastfed babies have far fewer risks associated with illnesses such as asthma, obesity, childhood leukemia, and SIDS. 
3. Healthy Mom!  Breastfeeding helps moms shed pregnancy weight.  It also lowers a woman’s risk of ovarian and breast cancer.
4. Environmentally Friendly!  Breastfeeding only requires mom and baby.  It reduces waste and energy use associated with formula feeding.
5.  Saves Money!  Organic formula costs approximately $8,000 for the baby’s first year. 
6. Comfort & Bonding!  The maternal connection that is established during the feedings can provide a soothing effect when the baby is sick, hurting, or distraught.
7.  Baby’s Brain Development!  A study showed that breastfed babies had a 5.2-point advantage in IQ tests because of the bonding and nutritional value associated with breastfeeding (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition).

Friends have pointed me towards the website Kellymom about breastfeeding and parenting.  It is full of a ton of information regarding why to breast-feed, how to get started, and common questions and concerns.  There is also an excellent chapter in the book I purchased titled, the Eco-nomical Baby Guide, by Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelley. Oh there is so much to learn!!! And, in 1.5 weeks, I will actually have some time to learn!

On a related side note, in the US many organizations have been working to make breastfeeding more acceptable in the US.  There is now a child’s toy called breast milk baby that is a breastfeeding baby doll that was created in Spain but is now available in the US.  Check out this news report on the baby doll. Though this is definitely a major shift in our cultural norm, I think the idea is intriguing.  It begins to make breastfeeding as normal as a bottle and with all the benefits mentioned above, I don’t think this is a bad thing at all!