August 1st through 7th is World Breastfeeding Week. Put on by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, this will be the 25th annual celebration that encourages, advocates, and educates the world about the importance of breastfeeding.
Though most people associate breastfeeding with improved health outcomes for babies, few understand how far-reaching nursing has the potential to be. In fact, the impact on overall health is so significant that UNICEF estimates 1,300,000 lives could be saved each year if more women were able or chose to breastfeed their babies.
The decision whether to breastfeed your baby is an easy one for some moms, but it can be an agonizing choice for others. From the outside looking in, breastfeeding can be intimidating.
All the talk of painful nipples, sore breasts, and latching issues can be scary. Moms who are going back to work in demanding, high-stress jobs will wonder how they’ll ever find the time or privacy to pump. Others worry about eating the wrong things or wonder if any medications they are on will enter their breast milk and hurt their babies.
We’ve all heard the stories of women who start out determined to breastfeed, only to admit defeat a few weeks later. Sometimes we can be our worst enemies. We look for reasons why something won’t work, rather than looking for a reason why we need to make it work.
In celebration of the World Breast Feeding Week’s 2017 goal of “working together for change,” we have done all the hard work for you and came up with one hundred and eleven scientifically proven reasons you need to (at least) try to make breastfeeding work.
Sometimes just knowing why you can’t quit, knowing what’s at stake, will keep you moving in the direction you want to be heading. Whether your motivation is the health of your baby, your health, environmental impact or financial considerations, our infographic featuring 111 reasons to breastfeed will keep your eyes on the prize.
Find the reasons that most motivate you the most — whether it’s reducing your baby’s cancer risk or simply saving money. When things get challenging, remember your reason and don’t ever give up. Because at the end of the day, what matters most isn’t the struggle you’re going through — it’s the result. And your baby’s well-being will make all your efforts worth it.
About the Author
Jenny Silverstone is the mother of two, a writer and a breastfeeding advocate. You can read her work at MomLovesBest.com, where she tries to help new mothers overcome common breastfeeding and breast pumping struggles.
