Benefits of breast feeding beyond 6 weeks

[MMGerard]

My brother just told me his wife is frustrated with breastfeeding; she would like to know the benefits of continuing beyond 6 weeks. I can share my experience with her; it probably took me 6 weeks to get good at it, and after that it was easy and rewarding! But I think she is looking for something more scientific. Can anybody recommend some articles/links that I could pass along to her that would help her understand the benefits of breast feeding for at least a year? Thanks!!!

[paulamc]

There's a lot of good info here:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/pre...-benefits.html

[lifeguard]

I was going to say at 6 weeks it was just starting to get easy & comfortable for us!

[LadyCatherine185]

Originally Posted by paulamc

There's a lot of good info here:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/pre...-benefits.html

that is a great page, lots of links!!!

[kriket]

Originally Posted by lifeguard

I was going to say at 6 weeks it was just starting to get easy & comfortable for us!

same for me, maybe even as long as 8-12 weeks! It seems like I got some comments at 3 months that "I could stop that now" why? So I could spend the next 3 months trying to figure out what bottle he likes, and which formula he could tolerate?

[MMGerard]

So bummed!

Thank so much for all of the great information! I passed it all onto my brother and he said that his wife was doing better and breastfeeding was getting easier.

I really thought the crisis had passed and that they'd be set for a long breast-feeding relationship. But now he just called and said they started on formula a few days ago. I'm so bummed!

[kriket]

bummer, at least she tried and she has a good SIL if she ever needs future support!

[MMGerard]

What a nice thing to say; thank you!!!

[mysticmomma]

http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/html/Benefits.shtml

I couldn't find the one that went "if you bf for one day, one month, six months, etc."

[sunshynbaby]

That's too bad. If she regrets her decision and changes her mind, she can try relactating. There's lots of good info about this on Kellymom. The first six weeks are hell! I'm glad I figured that out, or else I would have given up too. I wish more people knew this so they would keep going...

[Bluegoat]

Our province has just started an add campaign to encourage BF, and the first commercials they are putting out are all on the theme that the first 6 weeks are when mom and baby are learning, and that it gets better. The motto is "Learning makes it natural" they compare it to learning a new language or to play the piano.

Here is the website they have set up.

[Friendlee]

Oh how wonderful! They really should do this everywhere - here where I live, I was given formula by the doctor, the hospital, in the mail, etc. I even got a diaper bag upon my departure from the hospital that was filled with coupons for formula and more formula samples. If I'd taken all the samples, I probably could have fed her for the first 6 months! I left the diaper bag behind and they tried to remind me to take it and I told them I had no use for the contents of the bag. It made me mad that they were inundating new moms who are tired and frustrated with a tempting alternative when things get tough.

Having nursed for only 4.5 weeks now, I am SO glad I chose to do it. It was ROUGH up until last week. It's still nowhere near perfect, but the road is a little less bumpy and I look forward to things getting a little better each week. I love bonding with my daughter this way. It's kind of a 'two steps back, one step forward' kind of thing.

[sunshynbaby]

Originally Posted by Bluegoat

Our province has just started an add campaign to encourage BF, and the first commercials they are putting out are all on the theme that the first 6 weeks are when mom and baby are learning, and that it gets better. The motto is "Learning makes it natural" they compare it to learning a new language or to play the piano.

Here is the website they have set up.

That is AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!! I love it!