breastmilk is best...

Fell ill on Friday night. Think I caught mum's "runny nose" and my nose was dripping the whole night non-stop. Felt really miserable and had to pop a pill to try and stop the "tap"...was worried whether I should continue to breastfeed Isaac, in case the medication is not suitable to be "transmitted" to the new born. So, we decided to feed him the standby ready-made formula milk. Little did we know that this standby ready-made formula milk caused the little one to suffer from constipation the next day....which got him even more easily irritated and got him crying on and off the whole night!

Thank God that my runny nose was not serious and that the doc confirmed that the medication that I took was safe for breastfeeding. So I returned to breastfeed Isaac and the little one returned to a better bowel movement thereafter! So, breastmilk is best afterall!!

BTW, breastmilk is best for the following reasons (highlighted from this online article Breast-Feeding Best Bet for Babies):

a) The primary benefit of breast milk is nutritional. Human milk contains just the right amount of fatty acids, lactose, water, and amino acids for human digestion, brain development, and growth. As such, breast-fed infants have lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and other medical problems than bottle-fed babies.

b) Breast-fed babies have fewer illnesses because human milk transfers to the infant a mother's antibodies to disease.

c) Sucking at the breast promotes good jaw development as well. It's harder work to get milk out of a breast than a bottle, and the exercise strengthens the jaws and encourages the growth of straight, healthy teeth.

d) Many psychologists believe the nursing baby enjoys a sense of security from the warmth and presence of the mother, especially when there's skin-to-skin contact during feeding.

In addition, breastfeeding could help the mother to lose weight as well!! While one is pregnant, the body automatically layers on extra fatty tissue so that the mother would have enough fat stores to begin and support breastfeeding. After delivery, however, if what one eat is varied and well balanced, breastfeeding can help one to lose pregnancy weight without compromising either one's health or the baby's by dieting. And one would naturally burn calories to make breast milk every time one nurse!