As I look back on this past year, I have to share how thankful I was to be able to exclusively breastfeed my son for six months and continue our journey together for almost a year. Breastmilk or “liquid gold” as many call it boosts the immune system of infants and is the best natural building block for babies growth. When it comes to breastfeeding, it does not always come natural to new moms. To reap those benefits, I suggest finding a lactation consultant to help you prepare pre and postnatal. A lactation consultant can help you have much more successful and less stressful journey.
According to this article, “Providing breast milk is like a giving your baby a daily vaccine,” said Maureen Pahl, R.N, a lactation consultant at South Miami Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. “Breast milk actually ignites the premature infant’s immune system. It contains Immunity, live cells and the nutrients that cannot be replicated in formula. It’s species specific (for humans from humans) and contains bioactive ingredients. Research has also shown that breastfeeding increases maternal bonding and enhances brain growth.”
In honor of World Breastfeeding Week, I created this video to share a service from Baptist Health South Florida that offers live breastfeeding support without having to leave your home.
In the early weeks, I had my lactation consultant on constant call, but sometimes it was hard to schedule time to meet her face to face. I love the Care on Demand services from Baptist Health South Florida because you can get individualized, high-quality care from home. You simply download the app, schedule an appointment and ask any question you have to get the support you need.
Check out the video above or read the article for more on the benefits of breastfeeding here.