boob bonuses – breastfeeding benefits

Most of you know that in the beginning, for me, breastfeeding was a nightmare. Just 2 months ago, I wrote that I didn’t think I would ever love breastfeeding. So trust me when I tell you, I didn’t think I would ever be writing a post about the unexpected bonuses of breastfeeding.

More pride – I read this in The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, “Many women are surprised by the passion they come to feel about breastfeeding. If you meet any other breastfeeding woman anywhere in the world, you feel a connection, no matter how different her culture is, and no matter how long ago you or she breastfed your babies.” Yes! I am so passionate about what I do for my son and I’ve found a very large community of women, both local and online, that feel the same.

Less fussing – Fussy baby? Pop a nipple in his mouth. Arms hurt from rocking him to sleep? Pop a nipple in his mouth. Baby fell and bonked his head? Pop a nipple in his mouth!

More food – While the ol’ “breastfeeding makes you lose weight” crap wasn’t true for me, I still get to eat a extra 400 calories per day. That’s 6 1/2 servings of Jell-O dark chocolate mousse, 2 1/4 Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate bars, or 4 Shiner Light Blonde beers!

Less dishes to wash -  I think a typical bottle fed baby eats every 4 hours during the day and assuming they sleep 8 hours through the night (jerks), that’s 4 bottles, 4 nipples, and 4 ringy nipple holder onner things to wash each day. And then don’t you have to sterilize the bottles too?

More sleep – I’m guessing that getting up to prepare and warm a bottle takes at least 10 minutes, during which time you fully wake up which makes it that much harder to go back to sleep. All I have to do is lift my shirt up and fall back asleep.

Less tampons – Who hasn’t had a period in 17 months? This chick! That’s a tampon savings of at least $102. No cramps is just a bonus.

More excuses – Want to check your email or go play on facebook during a family function? “Baby’s hungry and he’s going through this distracted nursing phase, be back in a jiffy!”

I’m sure there are plenty more. My hubby would say “bigger boobs,” but I expected those to come with pregnancy. What have been your unexpected boob bonuses since you started breastfeeding? Share in the comments! If you enjoy reading about The Gnome, like us on Facebook and follow us on twitter! While you’re at it… check out our Networked Blogs box in the right sidebar and consider joining through Google Friend Connect, will ya?