All the experts agree that exclusively breastfeeding your baby for a minimum of his/her first six months helps to provide your baby with nutrition and protection that just can’t be matched by even the best formula. The World Health Organization even thinks mothers should continue to breast feed, along with providing solid food, for the first two years of a child’s life, a recommendation most mother’s in the Western world are unable to/choose not to heed.

Breastfeeding

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Benefits Of Breast Milk

However, any amount of time you can devote to breastfeeding your baby will be beneficial, even if it is only a month. Babies receive immunization from many diseases through breast milk and this can help protect him/her early on in life. Breastfeeding is also the least expensive way to feed your baby. Formula and bottles are expensive. Breast milk is free. If you decide to breastfeed there are really only a few things you may want to think about purchasing to help make your feeding experience a bit easier.
The first purchase you may want to consider is a breast pump. Breast pumps can be used for pumping extra milk that may be causing you discomfort or, for women with little milk, can be used for encouraging your milk flow to increase. The more your breast is used, i.e. gives milk, the more milk your body will produce. Therefore, if you need to increase the amount of milk in your breasts, then pumping is a good option. Also, if you are not available at every feed, whether you have returned to work or are busy running errands, pumping is a great idea for creating bottles of breast milk for your baby. However, be sure to choose a bottle whose nipple most resembles the breast so that your baby won’t get confused switching between the different feeding systems.

Choosing A Breast Pump

Before choosing what kind of pump you want to buy, evaluate your lifestyle and how often you will need to pump. If you will be working full time but want your baby to exclusively feed from breast milk, then you will want to consider a battery operated or electric breast pump. These pumps do not require physical exertion for pumping and are great options for women who need to pump often to keep up their milk supply. Explore user reviews for various electric breast pumps like the Avent Isis iQ, Ameda Purly Yours, Medela Pump In Style, Medela Swing, Medela Single Deluxe, and the Medela Freestyle Hands-free breast pump.
Manual pumps are great options for women who will only need to pump occasionally. If you are usually available to your baby for on the breast feedings, then a manual pump may be all you need. Manual pumps are also good for when you want to pump a bottle of milk for the sitter, the grandparents or your partner to use for feeding the baby while you are out. Also consider pumping a few bottles of breast milk for your partner to give the baby during a night feeding to give you a much needed break and a good night’s rest. Many women also like to use manual breast pumps when on the road or traveling as they are easy to take along. Check out reviews for the Medela Harmony manual breast pump and the Avent Isis manual breast pump.
Also learn more about nursing accessories like nursing pillows, and breastfeeding storage options like breast milk bags and freezer safe breast milk bottles that can fit right on your pump.