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Let me first start of by saying whatever method you choose as a mother to provide nourishment to your child is your choice. If you choose to formula feed then that is great and if you choose to breastfeed then that is also a great option. Either way, you are doing a great job and you are doing what you feel is the right thing to do. Once you’ve given birth, breast feeding is the single most important thing you can do to protect your baby and help to promote good health.

Breastfeeding Benefit #1

Best of all, breastfeeding is free. Which means you get to save a ton of money on formula! We all know how high priced formula is.

Breastfeeding Benefit #2

Along with saving you money on HMR (Human Milk Replacement), breast feeding can also help you to keep your medical bills down. Research have shown that babies that are fed with formula get sicker more often and more seriously than babies that are breast fed They also have more ear infections, respiratory infections, and other problems. This however can be even more true if your family has had a history of allergies. When a baby is breast fed, the antibodies pass on from the mother to the baby, helping to protect against illness and allergies. As the baby’s system matures, his body will begin to make it’s own antibodies, and he’ll be more equipped to handle sensitivities of food.

Breastfeeding Benefit #3

Sucking on the breast will also help with the development or jaw alignment and the development of the cheekbone. For this very reason, there is less of the need for costly orthodontic work when the child gets older.

Breastfeeding Benefit #4

Unlike formula, breast milk is always ready, always available, convenient, and always the right temperature for feeding. Plus, it contains all of the vitamins and minerals your growing baby needs, saving you a lot of money.

Breastfeeding Benefit #5

Breast feeding also offers many benefits for the mom as well. The baby sucking at the breast will cause contractions right after birth, leading to less bleeding for the mom, and helping her uterus to it’s shape before pregnancy much faster.

Breastfeeding Benefit #6

Breast feeding will also burn calories, so a mom can lose weight much faster than if she fed her baby with a bottle. Breast feeding will also create a special bond with the mother and the baby – which is one thing formula simply cannot do.

At the end of the day whichever method you choose to feed your baby is the right way. Formula works well for some while breastfeeding is a better option. So it all boils down to personal preferences.

Breastfeeding journey can be difficult for some and a breeze for other moms. For my first child I exclusively breastfed and I was able to save a lot of money. I breastfed him for a whole year and only stopped because I became pregnant with my twin girls. My doctor advised me to stop breastfeeding while pregnant, therefore I had no choice but to ween him off.

With my twin girls it was a more challenging breastfeeding journey as there were two of them! I tried breastfeeding but it was difficult, one of my girls preferred the bottle and the other one that loved the breastmilk had a difficult time latching on. I tried this breast shield at it helped a little but it was still challenging. I decided to pump and feed them with a bottle, boy did my stress level decrease. This is the pump that I absolutely loved. It is called the Spectra. I used this pump at home and at work this is the one I loved, it very portable and rechargeable. It worked like a charm, it is called Motif! Oh and both pumps are medical grade and they are too me in my opinion the best pumps out there.

When I started to run low with my milk supply I started supplementing with formula. I would alternate feeds with formula and breastmilk. I would even do half formula and half breastmilk. My twin girls drank it up and didn’t even notice the difference.

Whenever I breastfed I would also use this manual pump on the other breast and it somehow was able to collect milk from the other breast. It is truly a gem and all breastfeeding mother’s should invest in it. It is pretty affordable and worth every penny!

Let’s talk nipple cream some of the nipple creams I enjoyed using were this one called Motherlove Nipple Cream, I also liked this one called Earth Mama Organics Nipple Cream. Both creams are very affordable.

You will also need nursing pads. You may choose to invest in washable/reusable or the disposable ones. I personally liked both. These are the reusable ones I used and here are the disposable ones I enjoyed.

Storage bags are a must because whenever you pump you will need to be able to pour that milk into a bag to store and freeze for later on. These are the storage bags I loved by Medela.

If you plan on pumping while at work you will also need a cooler bag with ice packs. I loved this one because it came with the bag and ice packs at a reasonable price. This will allow you to pump and store in the bag without having to utilize your work fridge.

Another good item to have is a breastfeeding log book and a regular mama journal. While you are pumping is a great time to reflect on your day and journal about things that are on your mind. The breastfeeding log book is great for those early months when you are trying to get the hang of breastfeeding, it allows you to keep track of your feedings. Get Your Mom Journals Here! Get Your Breastfeeding log book here.

Hopefully you were able to get some tips for your breastfeeding journey. Breastfeeding is such a beautiful experience. You feel so connected to your little one. If it is your desire to breastfeed, I hope that it is a smooth and enjoyable journey for you.