Breastfeeding for
Pleasure
by Debbie Page, RN, IBCLC
Are you wondering about how to feed your soon to be
delivered baby? We’ve all heard that breastfeeding is best for the baby and
that the benefits of breastmilk are tremendous. But are there other reasons to
breastfeed your baby? Yes–pleasure.
Most of us spend our lives working hard to get through
school and then throughout our career to get to the end result of weekends,
vacations and other pleasurable activities. Well, listen for a few minutes
about the pleasure breastfeeding brings and you may decide to breastfeed your
baby for a few more months.
Did you know that breastfeeding gives a mother a sense of
well being? The hormone (neurotransmitter or chemical messenger) oxytocin is
released every time your baby suckles. This hormone known as the ‘hormone of
love’ is the same hormone that flooded you when you fell in love. It is the
chemical messenger that gives you the ‘oh! my gosh’ feeling that ‘this is too
good to be true’ and ‘I hope it never ends!’ In combination with prolactin
which is high during breastfeeding, oxytocin directs a mother’s love towards
her infant causing the mother to fall in love with her baby over and over
again. And who doesn’t desire that feeling of pleasure?
Studies show that breastfeeding mothers do not see feeding
or caring for their babies as a chore or as monotonous. This is in contrast
with formula feeding mothers who often report the opposite. Again, oxytocin is
the key player is this phenomenon.
Oxytocin also reduces stress which in turn reduces later
stress-related diseases. A reduction in stress is a gift to you the mother when
first learning to care for your new baby. And your precious baby gets a surge
of oxytocin while breastfeeding reducing his/her stress.
When trying to decide how you will feed your baby stop to
reflect on the incredible pleasure and joy that breastfeeding brings. In our
hectic and oftentimes chaotic society moments of joy and pleasure scattered
throughout your day is a worthy and attainable goal.
Breastfeed! Guaranteed to make you feel fabulous!*
*Breastfeeding should be 100%
comfortable and pleasurable, if not please contact a Debbie Page, RN, IBCLC at www.thenewbornbaby.com
