Baby Green : Breastfeeding

So, I have to say I was really surprised at the reaction that I got about my post on disposables.
I am proud to announce that I will be breast feeding baby number three.
Why breast feed? Well to start with , it is the design I mean mom comes equipt to do it. My doctor as well as most of the world's doctors state that breastfeeding is better for baby and mother. Your natural immunity is passed to your child through your milk.Studies are showing that not only are babies given moms immunities but they are also at lower risks for ear infections and recently I read for lukemia.Not to mention that mom's recovery time is quicker!
It's convenient.Always the perfect temperature. I have to say i know both sides of the fence on this one and I liked having to roll over pick up Addy and nurse her back to sleep while a peacefully dozed versed having to get up measure and heat water, mix test , feed burp... that was the case with TJ. I also liked not having to carry bottles around. Addy did take formula - she needed supplements.
I never had the problem of eating anything that didn't agree with Addy, I made sure that I had a lot of fluids and ate a well balanced diet but I never avoided any foods for the milks sake. Although, I always avoid alcohol I know that several moms have prepared for an evening out where they planned to have an adult beverage by pumping before going out for enough until they had metabolized the alcohol, and simply "pumped and dumped' the alcohol laced milk.
There is a lot of information out there on breastfeeding, I got the most help with Addy from other moms. I also got a great deal of encouragement from those moms. I think the best advice for a nursing mom is to join a support group, like Le Leche League. There are groups of moms that meet on a regular basis to discuss feeding, naturally.
I think that one of the best things about breast feeding is that sense of satisfaction that comes with knowing you are providing your babies nutrition, the bonding that takes place during nursing is absolutely amazing. I can't describe the feeling that I had looking down at my baby as she nursed and knowing that I was giving her something that no one else could.
What makes breastfeeding green you might ask? Well a few things, primarily to start breastfeed mothers forgo bottles most of the time, so the amount of plastic being produced for bottles is reduced, especially if the "drop in" disposable liners are avoided altogether, no plastic scoops. In exclusively breastfeeding moms aren't taking advantage milk based formulas, which come from obviously cows milk, a good 20% of green house gases come for the dairy farm industry, nursing inadvertent reduce green house gases.Not to mention the energy used to "harvest" the cows milk. Breast milk, always the the perfect temp required no energy, well no outside energy. You don't have to use electricity or natural gas to heat a bottle, no water or detergent that would pollute that water is used to clean the bottles. Then there is the poop factor,the issue of a breastfed versus formula-fed and the environment. When changing a diaper especially a cloth diaper, you know the difference! Breastfed baby’s waste is much easier to wash from a cloth diaper, as well as the odor is not nearly as bad. When considering the energy and water involved in washing cloth diapers, breast is definitely best!

I plan on writing next on bottle feeding, so what is the big deal with bottles these days anyway?Since having her and using the Avent brand bottles I have learned more about the dangers of plastics and how the constant heating and washing some brands of bottles can cause petro toxins , BPA that leach into the baby's milk and digestive systems. Rest assured though there are green options!