Let’s Talk Breastfeeding! Ten Interesting Facts Every Woman Should Know

Let’s Talk Breastfeeding! Ten Interesting Facts Every Woman Should Know

Breastfeeding is an art all its own! They say there is a special and unique bond that takes place between a mother and her baby during breastfeeding. Though it comes with its challenges, there are several benefits to this trick of the trade!

Below you will find some facts you may not know when it comes to this delicate topic. However, it is important to note that breastfeeding is not the only way a mother can bond with her baby. There are several women who choose not to breastfeed. Whatever the reason, each woman is capable of making her own decisions when it comes to the health and safety of her baby.

Ten Facts Every Woman Should Know About Breastfeeding:

1. Consistent breastfeeding can attribute to losing much of your baby weight! It is estimated that around 500 calories a day are burned simply by breastfeeding. It takes a lot of energy to keep a milk supply. What a workout! Your body is capable of incredible things!
2. Breastfeeding is instinctual. Though not every woman is able to breastfeed for various reasons, it is still one of nature’s phenomena. Holding your baby skin-to-skin within the first few hours after birth can increase their ability to naturally gravitate towards your breast and begin to latch on their own.
3. Size has nothing to do with how much breastmilk you produce. We know that breasts come in all shapes and sizes, but size truly does not matter. The amount of milk you produce will depend entirely on your own body.
4. In all likelihood, your baby could pick you out of a crowd simply by your scent alone. Isn’t that fascinating? A mother’s scent is very distinct to her baby because of breastfeeding. This is just another amazing factor with this type of bonding.
5. Breastmilk can escape from multiple holes. It may sound odd, but it’s very much true. Your nipple has the capability of spraying breastmilk from various pores. On average, women have between 10 and 20 pores altogether.
6. One breast typically holds more milk supply than the other. This is not true for everyone, but almost two-thirds of mothers produce more milk in their right breast. (And no, it has nothing to do with being right-handed or not.)
7. A breastfeeding “high” is a real thing. Breastfeeding triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin. This hormone causes the mother and baby both to relax.
8. Breastmilk can incentivize your baby to try new flavors. Whatever the mother is eating during breastfeeding will inevitably be passed on to the baby through breastmilk and has the potential of helping to ease into new flavors with minimal effort.
9. Breast implants have no impact on breastfeeding. A mother who has had breast implants can still breastfeed her baby. It may take some extra effort, but it is not impossible.
10. Breastfeeding in public is officially legal in all fifty states. Did you know that it wasn’t until 2018 that Utah passed a law allowing mothers to openly breastfeed in public? As silly as that sounds, it’s true! Mothers have the right according to the law to choose whether or not they wish to breastfeed in public or in private.

A woman’s body was specifically designed to do incredible things. From conception to birth to breastfeeding and all in between, there is no question that women were made to do hard things! And it is both a wonder and lucidity all at once.