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Volume 8 |
~ News From
"Your Birthing
Family" ~ |
Issue 2 |
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About Babies
Extended Breastfeeding
- Handling the Criticism
By Dr.
William Sears
January 9, 2012
Question: I'm still nursing my two-year-old
daughter. We both love the bond created by breastfeeding, and neither of
us is ready to give it up. However, most of my friends and family strongly
think it's time to wean her. How can I cope with the disapproval?
Answer: If it's working for you and your child, and your mothering
instinct tells you it's right -- it's right! In my opinion, you're a
health-savvy, modern mom, and it seems that your friends and relatives are
old-fashioned and misinformed. As a pediatrician and parent, it grieves me
to hear well-meaning critics ask a breastfeeding mother, "You're still nursing?"
Know that you're actually making a wise, long-term investment in your child's
health. Here are a few things to remember that will help you handle any
unwarranted criticism:
Science is on your side. I have read many medical
journals with articles proving the long-term health benefits of breastfeeding.
The incidence of many illnesses, both childhood and adult, are lowered by
breastfeeding -- diabetes, heart disease, and central nervous system
degenerative disorders (such as multiple sclerosis) to name a few. The
most fascinating studies show that the longer and more frequently a mom nurses
her baby, the smarter her child is likely to become. The brain grows more
during the first two years of life than any other time, nearly tripling in size
from birth to two years of age. It's clearly a crucial time for brain
development, and the intellectual advantage breastfed babies enjoy is attributed
to the "smart fats" unique to mom's breast milk (namely, omega-3 fatty acid,
also known as DHA). From head to toe, babies who breastfeed for extended
periods of time are healthier overall. They tend to have leaner bodies
with less risk of obesity. They also have improved vision, since the eye
is similar to the brain in regards to nervous tissue. They have better
hearing due to a lower incidence of ear infections. Their dental health is
generally good, since the natural sucking action of the breastfed infant helps
incoming teeth align properly. Intestinal health is also much better than
those of non-breastfed babies, as breast milk is easier to digest, reducing
spit-up, reflux, and constipation. A toddler's immune system functions
much better since breastmilk contains an immunoglobulin (IGA) which coats the
lining of the intestines, which helps prevent germs from penetrating through.
Even the skin of these babies is smoother and more supple.
World opinion is on your side. The World Health
Organization (WHO) officially recommends mothers breastfeed until three years of
age. (Yes, you did read that right!) Even the American Academy of
Pediatrics recommends mothers should breastfeed "at least until one year of age
and then as long as baby and mother mutually want to."
It's better for your health. Extended breastfeeding
reduces the risk of uterine, ovarian, and breast cancers. Breastfeeding
women also have a lower incidence of osteoporosis later in life.
It's better for your toddler's behavior. We have many
extended breastfeeders in our pediatric practice, and I have noticed that
breastfed toddlers are easier to discipline. Breastfeeding is also an
exercise in baby reading, which enables a mother to more easily read her baby's
cues and intervene before a discipline situation gets out of hand. Nursing
is a wonderful calming tool on days when Mom needs to relax and to stave off an
impending toddler tantrum.
Blame it on your doctor. I have noticed that one of the
easiest ways to silence critics is the phrase: "My doctor advised me to."
You can go on to explain that your doctor told you about all the recent research
extolling the benefits of extended breastfeeding.
Let your child silence the critics. Once your friends and
relatives see the benefits of your breastfeeding bond, your growth as a mother,
and the emotional, intellectual and physical health of your child, they will
serve as convincing testimonies to the value of extended breastfeeding.
Used with permission from the author
Ask Dr. Sears: Extended Breastfeeding - Handling the Criticism
Dr. Sears, or Dr. Bill as his
"little patients" call him, is the father of eight children as well as
the author of over 30 books on childcare. Dr. Bill is an Associate
Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California,
Irvine, School of Medicine. Dr. Bill received his pediatric
training at Harvard Medical School's Children's Hospital in Boston and
The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto -- the largest children’s
hospital in the world, where he served as associate ward chief of the
newborn nursery and associate professor of pediatrics. Dr. Sears
is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and a fellow of
the Royal College of Pediatricians (RCP). Dr. Bill is also a medical and
parenting consultant for BabyTalk and Parenting magazines and the
pediatrician on the website
Parenting.com.
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'Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them
from the ends of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child and The one who labors with child, together,
A
great throng shall return there...And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD.'
Jeremiah 31:8, 14
~~~
©2013 Charis Childbirth
Services, All Rights Reserved
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leaving all attribution intact.
February 2013
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