10 Facts you should know about breastfeeding and nursing mothers and infant formulas
1.Mother’s milk is a perfect food for babies; however it could be low in vitamin C, vitamin D and iron. Breastfeeding and nursing mothers should have a well-balanced diet but they can also benefit from real vitamins and supplements. Organic almond milk or organic coconut milk can be a great supplement for mother’s milk. http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-food/Superfoods-breastfeeding-nursing-mothers.php
2. Breastmilk is produced from protein in your diet or protein stored in your body. Breastfeeding mothers should increase their protein intake to lose body fat and not muscle. The best source of protein for breastfeeding mothers and growing children is the lowest mercury fish “wild sockeye salmon”. Wild sockeye salmon is a great source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that helps with proper brain formation, increase eyesight and stronger nerves and reduce depression.
3. Breast milk is the best nutrition for infants and newborns should not receive any other foods other than breastmilk for the first six month. Dr Ruth Lawrence in her book “Breastfeeding” says that breastfeeding should be continued to a year even longer along with other foods as they are introduced. http://www.seattleorganicrestaurants.com/vegan-whole-foods/breastfeeding/
4. Almost all the drugs can enter into mother’s milk and they can have adverse side effects on the infant including rapid heartbeat, poor sleeping, irritability, poor sleeping pattern, diarrhea, vomiting and restlessness. Some of these drugs can even accumulate in the infant’s body and cause addiction.
5. Babies who are breastfed have a very low risk of developing blood infections and as a matter of fact they have 600% less risk of developing lymphoma. Breastfed babies also have 50% lower risk of developing ear infections than bottled babies.
6. Mothers who don’t have enough milk or due to a medical condition cannot breastfeed their babies should be aware that many infant formulas have high amount of GMO soy, pesticides and other toxins in them. One of these toxic ingredients in infant formula is cupric sulfate that exists in famous infant formulas like Similac, Enfamil and even Earth’s Best Organic.
You will be surprised to know that even CDC found a toxic chemical in rocket fuel called “perchlorat” in nearly 15 brands of infant formula including Similac and Enfamil. Other contaminates that exist in infant formulas are dioxin, genetically modified organisms, BPA (hormone-disruptive chemicals that can cause neurological problems, cancer, obesity, hyperactivity, stress and diabetes), melamine (causing kidney failure), AGE (advanced glycoprotein end products) and high fructose corn syrup. The best is to make your own infant formula at home instead of buying commercial ones, or read the products labels carefully. Also use spring water or distilled water for making infant formula. Do not use tap water that’s contaminated with heavy metals like fluoride and chlorine. Be aware that some drinking waters can have high level of manganese that can have negative impacts on kids.
7. Herbs including alfalfa, blessed thistle, dandelion, fennel, horsetail and raspberry can be beneficial for nursing mothers. Nettle leaf also contains iron and additional nutrients that can be beneficial for nursing mothers. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid black walnut, sage and yarrow that can reduce milk supply.
8. Polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in mother’s milk can significantly increase the neural development of infants and babies. Babies who are fed with infant formula do not receive DHA which is very important for baby’s intellectual and neural development. It’s important for a new born to receive DHA from mother’s breast milk not baby formulas that claim they have DHA. Newborns who are DHA deficient may never fully develop or have auto immune disorder and learning difficulties as they age.
The fetus relies on the mother’s body for DHA. The constant drain on mother’s DHA can lead to other deficiencies for mothers and some researchers even believe that high blood pressure (preeclampsia) and depression during pregnancy can be a result of DHA deficiency. So it’s very important to have a balanced diet during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Wild Sockeye salmon is the lowest mercury fish and a great source of omega 3 fatty acids. However, be aware of other fish or farmed fish that have high mercury, PCBs and other toxins due to the pollution in the water where they are grown.
9. Mother’s milk also prevents Clostridium difficile which is the intestinal bacteria that causes inflammation and diarrhea. Children who are breastfed are also less likely to develop asthma, wheezing and respiratory allergies.
10. Unfortunately, the breast augmentation are becoming very common among thousands of ill and disfigured women who celebrate the illusion of having larger breasts without knowing that breast implants can cost them their lives, their beauty, their families, their health, their insurance and their vitality. Not that breast implants have negative effect on the woman’s ability to produce milk for breastfeeding, silicon implants have also a high rupture rate.
Studies show that 70% of these women have at least one ruptured implant within few years after the surgery. Also within 20 years after the implants these women face 90% chance of rupture. Silicon is a toxic carcinogen that can increase the chances of breast cancer in women.
Women who want to enlarge their breasts should consider that if they wish to breastfeed their babies since implant surgery can damage the nerves, milk ducts and milk glands. As a result women can have no feeling in the nipple and have significant reduction in the amount of their milk produced by the breasts. Implants can also block the flow of milk and make the breast swell.
