The breastfeeding rates in Australia after the baby is 3 months old substantially drop off and the potential reason behind this is that mums can find it hard-going and can have attachment issues as well as sore nipples.
Of course every mum has a unique situation and stopping breastfeeding is a personal matter which should not be questioned and the mum should not be made to feel guilty for not continuing.
But if the mum has decided to stop because she is finding it too hard then they should be aware of the vast number of support groups and lactation specialists in Australia who are at hand to help and who want to help.
The ABA offer numerous amounts of Mothers Groups which are there to counsel and support mums.
But why is there such a push to breastfeed our babies and why is breast best?
Breast milk is nutritionally perfect! It provides a baby with all of their nutritional needs and helps to build their immune system and fight any infections for as long as the baby is fed the breast milk and research also shows (Cunnane et al..2000) that babies who are breastfed have a different brain composition to non breastfed babies and this can be measured chemicals.
Research also shows that children exclusively breastfed for at least 6 months were less likely to be overweight
Which country has the highest breastfeeding rates and why?
The answer is Norway and in Norway 92% of mums breastfeed for at least 3 months, 80% for at least 6 months and 40% for at least 12 months.
So what is different about Norway and why do they have such high rates of breastfeeding and what can we do in Australia to learn from this? (A research study by the Australian Institute of Family studies shows that only 14% of mums breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months)
- There is more support from health professionals to overcome any issues
- Men view breastfeeding as normal and support and encourage women more
- There is complete acceptance of breastfeeding in public and women feel comfortable to do it anywhere
- Compliance with the WHO code on marketing of breast milk substitutes, bottles and teats
- Mothers milk is recognized as best for premature babies and most hospitals have human milk banks
- Increase in paid maternity leave with guarantee of previous employment
So the message is, if you can, breastfeeding is the best option for your baby. If you are having problems and need help then contact the Breastfeeding Association.
Not to mention, we should remember that it’s good for us mums too. Weight loss while breastfeeding is much faster as compared to weight loss without breastfeeding. Hence, mums can combine a safe and healthy weight loss program with breastfeeding their baby for the best benefits for both their bubs and themselves.
The Lose Baby Weight weight loss plans are breastfeeding safe and have been created to help support a breastfeeding mum and her milk supply and aim for a 500g – 1kg loss each week.
We have our 28 Day Breastfeeding Friendly Diet & Exercise Plan to use and/or our Healthy Mummy Range of products that have been created to be safe in breastfeeding and are high in fibre, high in protein, low in sugar, free from dairy and wheat, be non genetically modified, have over 25 vitamins and minerals in and have added ingredients such as fenugreek, flaxseed and pumkin seed. You can see more about the range and ingredients here
Breastfeeding & Weight Loss
Knowing whether you can or can’t lose weight when breastfeeding can be confusing. But our products and plans are safe in breastfeeding and we have also outlined below some points and tips to bear in mind if you are trying to lose weight and are also breastfeeding your baby.
1) Aim for a safe and sustainable 500g – 1kg a week
2) Do not restrict your calories. Your body uses approximately 500 calories a day to create milk so you do need extra calories when breastfeeding
3) There is no one size fits all calorie need each day – it depends on your own individual needs and what your individual BMR is
4) Consumer lots of nutrients from all food groups to support your milk supply – aim for lean proteins, dairy, vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, omega 3’s, eggs, water and eat regular snacks in between meals
5) Avoid processed foods and sugary snacks which are devoid of nutrients and will send your blood sugar and cravings up and down
6) Try light and gentle exercise and fit in what you can when you can. Don’t put pressure on yourself to do too much.
7) Avoid any kind of ‘diet pill’ as most contain products that could make your baby sick such as phentermine, aloe vera, caffeine, kelp, high doses of chromium and phenylpropanolamine.
And don’t forget to check out our shop to see what specials we have on this week on our Healthy Mummy product range