Not every mother chooses to breastfeed; others are not successful or have circumstances that do not allow them to do it. Neither of my children took to breastfeeding, so I eventually went to formula exclusively after trying to nurse for several weeks.

But, it is an undeniable fact that breastfeeding is the best food for your baby. Over the years, numerous studies have shown the benefits to your child – from increased brain development to immunities passed from mother to child. Everyone can tell you at least one way that your child will benefit from breastfeeding. What’s not as commonly known is that breastfeeding is also good for moms.

Physical Benefits
When your body is producing milk for breastfeeding, you burn up to an additional 500 calories per day – which adds up to burning about a pound a week just by feeding your child. Couple that with the fact that nursing mothers tend to eat healthy diets to better nourish their children and it’s evident why many mothers report a more rapid loss of baby weight while breastfeeding. Amy Elmore, an Oklahoma City mother says that she lost almost all of her baby weight within four months of giving birth due to breastfeeding exclusively.

Mothers who suffered from gestational diabetes will recover from the effects more quickly because breastfeeding lowers blood sugars, according to the La Leche League, an international organization for the promotion and advancement of breastfeeding. There have also been numerous studies showing a direct link between reduced rates of breast cancer, especially as a mother breastfeeds her children longer.

Mental Benefits
One of the most effective ways for a mother to bond with her baby is through close skin-to-skin contact. Breastfeeding offers a unique opportunity for a mother to experience this intimate contact. Many breastfeeding mothers report a deep feeling of satisfaction that they are able to nourish their babies so completely. In addition, a nursing mother’s body produces the hormone prolactin, which generates a calming effect in the mother, further adding to the “peace of mind” that many nursing mothers report.

Additional Benefits
Breastfeeding is economical. Baby formulas can cost anywhere from 10-50¢ cents per ounce, depending on the brand and whether you choose a powder or ready-to-use liquid. When you consider that a baby eats, on average, 30 ounces per day, the cost per week for formula alone can be over $100, a large financial investment when you also factor in that your child eats formula, almost exclusively, for the first year of her life.

Breastfeeding also saves time; you and your baby receive virtually instant gratification – something especially helpful at 3am. Jennifer Tankersley, a Moore mother of two says “I always thought breastfeeding was easier at night.” Breastfeeding means having no bottles to prepare or warm up, and no bottles to wash later. I would estimate that I spend at least an hour of each day mixing formula, making, warming bottles, and washing bottles. Every mother knows how precious an hour of free time is!

Although not 100% effective, breastfeeding does provide a form of natural contraceptive. It is highly recommended that alternate forms of birth control be used after the six month point.

Finally, breastfeeding is environmentally friendly. All of the milk produced is used to nourish your child – you can never make too much and then have to throw it away. The waste produced by purchasing packaged formula, bottles, and accessories can be avoided by breastfeeding.

Learn More
There are many great web sites which can answer your breastfeeding questions; here are just a few: www.lalecheleague.org, www.4woman.gov/breastfeeding, www.aap.org American Academy of Pediatrics, www.midwife.org American College of Nurse Midwives, www.ilca.org International Lactation Consultant Organization, www.hchb.hrsa.gov Maternal & Child Health Bureau

Check your local library or bookstore for books on breastfeeding; here are a few to get you started: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, La Leche League; Breastfeeding for Dummies, Sharon Perkins, Carol Vannais; The Breastfeeding Book, Drs. Martha & William Sears.

The La Leche League can provide free advice to moms who need breastfeeding help. Contact them at 866-293-6206 and they will direct you to a local expert.

Mari Farthing is a freelance writer and the Assistant Editor for MetroFamily Magazine. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and two children.