For women saying no to breastfeed babies

Losing weight by breast-feeding

According to a popular belief, breast-feeding makes you lose weight rather than put on. "Producing milk for baby takes a lot of extra energy, about 200 to 500 extra calories above what mom needs to maintain her weight. The higher caloric requirement for breast-feeding is one reason that extra body fat is stored during pregnancy, so that mom has an available source of extra fuel to make milk, so breast-feeding creates a unique opportunity to help mom lose fat more quickly by burning up that stored fat".

So my advice is that it is best to breast feed your baby and it will not hurt your body figure and body image.

How long is it okay to breast-feed a baby?

Well as it is common knowledge that a baby should be breast fed until 6th month or if the mother wishes to till the 9th month depending on the baby's health. First six months are very, very important as the child does not have the resistance power, which is taken care by breast milk. After 6th month, generally doctors advice for semi solid food, which gives way to gradually wean off the baby by 9th month. Weaning off should be done week wise so that the baby does not develop an insecure feeling. Daytime can be alternated with semi solid food depending on the baby's needs. A mother knows her baby the best so it is she who decides how long to breast-feed and slowly wean the baby off of breast milk.

Is it okay to breast feed in public?

Yes it is okay to breast feed in public because it is a mother's right and nobody should be against it. There is a lot of awareness around and even the doctors advise on breast-feeding till the first 6 months. If a woman feels shy about feeding in public places, I would suggest finding a proper place where there is some privacy.

Why mothers who breast feed complain of leg cramps at a later age?

Most mothers who have breast-feed their babies successfully through their life, later at the age of 40 to 50 end up having issues with calcium deficiency because of not following the doctors advice on prenatal vitamins and calcium supplements. This calcium deficiency leads to weakness of the joints and leads to leg cramps.

If a mother does not like taking calcium supplements, she can supplement herself with calcium found in food during their breast-feeding years. By doing this, their body will provide all the support for them and the baby from inside.

In some cases, it is also seen that a baby, whose mother has not followed doctor's advice of taking proper vitamins and supplements, has to be put on these supplements because of delay in his/her physical development like delay in walking, no signs of teething even at 20th month, so it is really good for a mother to support or load yourself well during breast feeding times and even at the time of pregnancy.

Are working moms depriving their child of parental attention?

Yes, a child is deprived of parental attention when both parents are working. Until a child's basic foundation is developed, I think a mother should mould her baby rather than be cared by servants or daycare. All his/her emotional needs are developed in the care of his/her parents, his sense of belonging, love, discipline, responsibility, until a child is confident that what may come, my parents are there for me. Every child's first five years are very important. His/her first year in school where the child is left to a totally new environment with his play group, here his journey starts to decide on what he likes and dislikes and either one of the parent should always be available to answer his questions and doubts which he comes across in his daily routine. Days have changed and I have noticed that Dad's too are playing an important role in moulding a child's future. With job demands on mother's, father's flexible work timings are a great help to the couple's to organize and take care of the baby right from the beginning. It is all about PRIORITIES again. From my point of view, our child and family should always be a PRIORITY. Intial years of hard work always bring good results-A Happy Family