Laptele matern, lichidul de aur al speciei umane

Sursa foto: www.kiddyshop.ro

Despre alaptarea fireasca si plina de minuni pentru copilas in cateva randuri citand studii internationale de specialitate.

Breastfeeding your child past infancy is NORMAL

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that “Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child… Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother… There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer.” (AAP 2012, AAP 2005)

• The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life and that “As recommended by the WHO, breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is not the cultural norm in the United States and requires ongoing support and encouragement. It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years. Family physicians should be knowledgeable regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding, including continued immune protection, better social adjustment, and having a sustainable food source in times of emergency. The longer women breastfeed, the greater the decrease in their risk of breast cancer.” They also note that “If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned.” (AAFP 2008)
• The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine affirms breastfeeding beyond infancy as the biological norm. “The average age at weaning ranges anywhere from six months to five years… Claims that breastfeeding beyond infancy is harmful to mother or infant have absolutely no medical or scientific basis,” says Arthur Eidelman, MD, president of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine.  “Indeed, the more salient issue is the damage caused by modern practices of premature weaning.”  The global organization of physicians further notes that “Human milk contains nutrients, antibodies, and immune-modulating substances that are not present in infant formula or cow’s milk. Longer breastfeeding duration is further associated with reduced maternal risks of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and heart attack.” (ABM 2012)

• A US Surgeon General has stated that it is a lucky baby who continues to nurse until age two. (Novello 1990)

• The World Health Organization emphasizes the importance of nursing up to two years of age or beyond (WHO 1993, WHO 2002).

• Scientific research by Katherine A. Dettwyler, PhD shows that 2.5 to 7.0 years of nursing is what our children have been designed to expect (Dettwyler 1995).

References [see also position statements supporting breastfeeding]

MOTHERS also benefit from breastfeeding for a longer duration

• Extended nursing delays the return of fertility in some women by suppressing ovulation (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer (References). Studies have found a significant inverse association between duration of lactation and breast cancer risk.

• Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer (References), uterine cancer (References), and endometrial cancer (References).

• Breastfeeding protects against osteoporosis. During lactation a mother may experience decreases of bone mineral. A nursing mom’s bone mineral density may be reduced in the whole body by 1 to 2 percent while she is still nursing. This is gained back, and bone mineral density may actually increase, when the baby is weaned from the breast. This is not dependent on additional calcium supplementation in the mother’s diet. (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (References).

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease (References).

• Breastfeeding has been shown to decrease insulin requirements in diabetic women. There is also a decreased risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in mothers who do not have a history of gestational diabetes (References).

• Breastfeeding moms may lose weight easier (References).

Sursa pentru informatiile de mai sus si linkuri la References gasiti aici: http://kellymom.com/ages/older-infant/ebf-benefits/

Pentru consultanta in alaptare puteti sa apelati la organizatia La Leche Leagu Romania, prin Roxana Dudus. Mai multe pe blogul Roxanei aici: http://atasatlasanulmamei.blogspot.ro/2013/01/la-doua-aniversare.html

Video Saptamana Internationala a Alaptarii 2012

Laptele matern si diversificarea

Laptele matern nu isi pierde din calitatile sale, nici dupa 6 luni, nici dupa 18 sau X luni. Doar ca, dupa 6 luni, laptele matern nu mai poate asigura in totalitate nevoile copilului. Un copil in dezvoltare are nevoie de o diversificare treptata, cat mai lenta, care sa-i asigure necesarul de fier, iar alimentul de baza ramane laptele matern, diversificarea atingand 5 mese complete de abia in jurul varstei de un an.

Am extras acest pasaj dintr-un interviu cu Irina Popescu,  consilier in alaptare, educator prenatal certificat Lamaze si moasa licentiata, acordat portalului totuldespremame.ro, articolul complet il gasiti aici. Interviul este scurt dar contine o multime de informatii pretioase despre alaptare, diversificare, iar la final aveti cateva link-uri utile mamicilor in devenire sau celor care incep diversificarea si alapteaza.

Ce inseamna in cifre alaptarea unui copilas peste un an. Fact Sheet util din site-ul KELLY MOM.

Ce mi-ar fi placut sa stiu inainte de nastere...

Cand fiul meu era inca un bebelus mai mare a aparut acest film ce insumeaza enorm de multe lucruri esentiale pentru mame in doar cateva minute. 

As fi vrut sa il stiu inainte de a face primele liste de shopping, calcule de sarcina pe luni si alte lucruri atat de "firesti" pentru o viitoare mamica. Poate va suna cunoscut;-).

Ei bine iata ce as fi spus eu viitoarei mame, mie, daca as fi avut ocazia sa calatoresc putin in timp:

"Ai incredere in tine, in puterea copilului tau, in Divinitate. 
Te rog oricat de mult tii la oameni daca ele nu sunt in acord cu dilema ta, te nu asculta vocile binevoitorilor. Functia si scoala unui om nu egaleaza dorinta de a fi mai bun sau faptul ca tu cresti un individ diferit de altii prin natura sa asa ca pune sub semnul intrebarii chiar si sfatul medicului daca nu simti ca "faci bine". Ia-o pe drumul parentingului bland fara sa eziti, iti va oferi cele mai frumoase bucurii tie si puiului mic. Stiu ca nu iti pari intotdeauna asa cum ai fi simtit ca sunt mamele, dar crede-ma esti suficienta si demna de a fi mama lui. Arata-i cat de minunat este sa fie iubit de tine, este un dar pe vecie!"

Multe din mamele din film schimba acum vieti in cariera lor de medici, consultanti, moase, antrepenori proiecte copii, pietene atunci cand fiecare avem nevoie de una. Le sunt recunoscatoare pentru ca le am in viata mea chiar si pret de un mesaj din cand in cand. 
In mod special ii multumesc Roxanei  Dudus pentru tot sprijinul in consilierea in alaptare si tot ce i-a urmat si mai ales pentru daruirea sa fantastica!
Sper sa va dea curajul de a va urma tot ce simtit mai frumos pentru copilul vostru!

Proiectul a fost inspirat de www.reflectionsofmotherhood.com si de cateva mame care si-au dorit sa imparta cate un gand cu viitorii parinti.
O initiativa Asociatia pentru Nastere Naturala si Alaptare.
Fotografii Alexandra Dinca

Sursa aici