There are many advantages of breastfeeding to both baby and mother and this is a fun and interactive way to encourage mothers in a group to examine some of them. Simply presenting reasons why breastfeeding is a good idea to a group might not keep everyone’s attention, is preachy and can be a bit dull. The participation involved in this exercise is its strength.
Take a large sheet of paper or a white board and write the letters of the alphabet down the right-hand side. Then ask each mother to name an advantage of breastfeeding beginning with a different letter of the alphabet: start at A and work your way around the group and through the alphabet.
The discussion usually starts with some mothers looking a little uncomfortable as if they are about to be tested but quickly livens up. Frequently it's difficult to draw to a conclusion, because someone will have additional suggestions she is eager to give and mothers will want to expand on why something is of particular importance in their own breastfeeding relationships. Participants may well take their discussions away with them, helping them to forge new friendships beyond the group.
An A to Z of Breastfeeding Advantages
- Antibodies from mother.
- Bonding, decreased risk of breast cancer.
- Comfort, cure-all, convenient.
- Dental development enhanced.
- Environmentally friendly, fewer ear infections.
- Fresh, fertility delayed, available in a famine, free.
- Good for the whole family, less gastroenteritis.
- Human milk for human babies, heart attack risk reduced, reduced risk of haemorrhaging after birth, hydrates baby during illness.
- Immunities, higher IQ, immediate, iron in breastmilk easily absorbed.
- Jaw development.
- Kangaroo care for premature babies, kudos to mum for persevering through difficult early days.
- La Leche League, human milk has nearly twice as much lactose as cows' milk (lactose is the sugar that feeds our brains), long-term benefits,.
- Mental development, money saved.
- Nighttime parenting easier, nutrients in proper proportions.
- Osteoporosis, ovarian cancer and obesity risks reduced.
- Protection against disease, periods delayed, peace of mind, parenting easier.
- Quick weight loss for mother, quiet: baby cries less.
- Relax while breastfeeding, respiratory disease less common.
- Simple, safe, sterile, reduces incidence of SIDs, speeds recovery, less smelly.
- Travelling is easy, temperature always right, stops tantrums.
- Understanding baby's needs, reduces mother’s risk of uterine cancer, lower incidence of urinary tract infection, milk uniquely suited to meet individual baby’s needs.
- Vitamins and minerals in breastmilk.
- Warm, no waiting, no wailing, available in wartime.
- eXactly what baby needs!
- You get to take care of your baby, yummy!
- Zero waste.
Facilitating Group Discussion
This exercise is intended to facilitate group discussion rather than a presentation of good reasons to breastfeed. Mothers love to share their experiences of breastfeeding, both the highs and lows and such sharing nearly always raises spirits. Mothers are energised by being able to talk to other breastfeeding mothers, even if they find no solution to their current troubles. The listing requires the participants to be inventive and it is designed to address their personal reasons as well as those supported by scientific research.
It’s an interesting exercise to do with mothers at different stages of mothering: while they are still pregnant, in early motherhood and at all stages thereafter. Each different group of mothers approaching the task will come up with a list that includes different and new reasons and will take the discussion arising in different directions. The list above is by no means exhaustive!
See The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, written and published by La Leche League International, 7th revised edition (2003) for specifics of any of the above-mentioned advantages.
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