Living Vegan For Dummies - Alexandra Jamieson [137]
Breastfeeding: So perfectly vegan!
The female breast is designed to provide milk for the human baby. The first milk women produce is immunity-building colostrum, which pregnant women start producing late in their pregnancies. Easy to digest and high in carbohydrates and protein, colostrum is also low in fat, making it the perfect first food for a baby. This rich milk is full of the mother’s antibodies, which help a mother share her stronger immune system with a baby (who hasn’t yet developed its immunity). Your body will provide the exact nutrients your baby needs for proper growth and development — an example of how amazing the human body truly is!
Because breastfed babies receive vitamin B12 through milk, vegan moms should remember to supplement appropriately. Vegan babies still need vitamin D2 (D3 is made from animal ingredients), which can be produced through daily sun exposure or supplementation of 5 micrograms a day. Once the baby starts eating solid foods, be sure to include legumes and whole grains to provide the zinc necessary for proper growth and development.
How long should I breastfeed?
The longer you’re able to breastfeed your baby, the better. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends nursing your child for at least one year, and the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) both recommend at least two years. Why? More than 100 components contained in breast milk protect babies from infections and disease. Many studies prove that significant health risks arise for both the mother and child if breastfeeding doesn’t occur. Breastfed babies have fewer incidents of ear infections, allergies, diarrhea, and possibly asthma than formula-fed babies.
Breastfeeding benefits for mama
Breastfeeding isn’t just a great choice for baby; moms receive plenty of health benefits, too. Lactation causes the mother’s uterus to contract to its original size after expanding during pregnancy. Breastfeeding also reduces a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer, osteoporosis, and ovarian and uterine cancers later in life. Nursing also helps her lose the extra weight gained during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding provides the perfect opportunity for the new baby and mother to connect on a deeper level as well. A newborn infant can only see objects 12 to 15 inches from its face — the distance to its mother’s face while nursing. This constant visual contact allows a baby and mother to imprint each other’s faces.
The good news about vegan moms is that most of us tend to breastfeed our babies — well into their first year, and even into their second year. Consider this: Up to 60 percent of all mothers in the U.S. nurse their babies in the hospital immediately following the birth, but only 25 to 39 percent of those mothers are still breastfeeding at 6 months. Some vegan communities like the Farm in Tennessee, on the other hand, report breastfeeding rates of 95 percent. This amazing fact shows that vegan mothers are pretty hip to the outstanding benefits of mother’s milk. They realize that it trumps all other options.
Prepare for successful breastfeeding by choosing a pediatrician who is pro-breastfeeding. Ask how they support new mothers who have difficulties nursing and whether they recommend formula as a last resort. A lactivist, or pro-breastfeeding pediatrician, should also have a certified lactation consultant to recommend to you should you need more expert help.
I’m having trouble with breastfeeding — now what?
New breastfeeding moms often become concerned about