6 Totally Selfish Reasons to Breastfeed

on October 19, 2011 at 3:24 PM

breastfeeding mom We hear a lot about all the benefits of breastfeeding for babies: how a mother's milk adapts to her baby's changing needs; how it's rich in nutrients; how it contains antibodies that protect infants from everything from asthma to diabetes to obesity to SIDS; how it promotes bonding -- and, heck, may even make kids smarter!

So, yeah, there are a ton of selfless reasons to breastfeed. But you know what? There are also a lot of totally selfish reasons to breastfeed, too.

For instance? Well, let's see ...

1. Breastfeeding makes you thinner: When your body is producing breast milk, it burns through calories faster -- like around 500 to 600 calories a day. That means you can unapologetically snack up a storm (OK, OK, within reason) and still shed those pounds you packed on during your pregnancy.

2. Breastfeeding is a total cost-saver: Seriously, those cans and bottles of formula really add up after a while. (Some estimates put the cost of formula-feeding at around $1,500 a year.) If you breastfed instead and pocketed the cash you'd save on formula, you could buy yourself a pretty nice piece of jewelry (or two -- or a whole new collection of fab shoes) when it was all over.

3. Breastfeeding doesn't have to cost you sleep: When I was breastfeeding my kids, I sometimes dozed off while nursing them in bed. Those were some of the best zzzz's I've gotten in my life.

4. Breastfeeding's good if you're forgetful: For those of us who can never remember to pack the wipes and the diapers in our diaper bags, breastfeeding means you're off the hook if you forget the formula, too. Your milk supply is always right where you are.

5. Breastfeeding is great for your health, too: Studies have linked breastfeeding to a lower risk for Type 2 diabetes, postpartum depression, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer in mothers. That's a serious bonus.

6. Breastfeeding feels good: That skin-to-skin contact with your baby boosts your level of the hormone oxytocin, which gives you that amazing, blessed-out feeling that goes a long way toward offsetting those sore nipples.

Did you choose to breastfeed for selfish reasons?

Image via viralbus/Flickr

About the author Amy Reiter

is a freelance writer living in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband/work spouse, two kids, and very demanding laptop computer.

Filed Under: baby first year, baby health, bonding, breastfeeding, formula, mom secrets, postpartum weight

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Comments (84)

GigantaursMommy

on Oct 19, 2011 at 3:31 PM

#1 isn't always true, some women (not very many) won't be able to shed a pound until after they have weaned their babies.

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mjp2707

on Oct 19, 2011 at 3:32 PM

Don't forget your shirts look better

alikay1986

on Oct 19, 2011 at 3:48 PM

Breastfeeding is great. I have breastfed 4 kids but can we stop perpetuating the myth that it helps with weight loss!!! I'm so sick of seeing these 90 lb celeb moms attributing their weight loss to breastfeeding. Yes it burns calories but it also makes you ravenously hungry and it forces your body to hold onto fat stores. I am slim pre,during, and post pregnancy but it's not until I stop breastfeeding that I loose those last 5 lbs.

ufollakaitlin

on Oct 19, 2011 at 3:49 PM

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA if breastfeeding makes me a selfish mother then hell, they don't get much more selfish than me!!!

jagamama0710

on Oct 19, 2011 at 3:54 PM

Yeah #1 isn't always true. I know about that first-hand. lol There's a surprising amount of women who that isn't true for actually.

KBW2

on Oct 19, 2011 at 3:57 PM

#1 is a JOKE for me. My OB told me that my body is holding on to the lbs to produce the milk :-(
Thank goodness I can produce it, but doing aerobic activity for 30-45 5x a week w weights only helped me lose 3 lbs over 5 long months of work. I quit that ! I'm slightly smaller now, but I'm planning to get it off when DD weans. :-) if being heavier is what MY body needs, so be it.

Nonmember comment from me

on Oct 19, 2011 at 3:58 PM

k, so it's not a myth that it burns more calories. it does burn more calories. but if you eat more calories than you burn you won't lose the weight.

jellyphish

on Oct 19, 2011 at 4:03 PM

#1 works more, from what I understand, because breastfeeding stimulates the uterus to contract to it's pre-pregnancy size.

Yes I nurse because I'm selfish- lazy, thrifty, and honestly I love having that all-inclusive medicine cabinet of a chest around. Oh, and I guess I want what's best for baby too.

LittleManMama

on Oct 19, 2011 at 4:06 PM

#1 is a joke for me as well. I have not lost ONE pound regardless if I was pigging out or being really strict. I get so tired of people saying it, even if it is true for most people.