Though “Chappelle’s Show” stopped taping years ago, that sketch lives on in my house. My son was breastfed and our daughter is being given breast milk as well. At the conclusion of many feedings, my wife will sing the breast milk song to celebrate another full belly.

Beyond the health benefits to a baby, breastfeeding has been a financial lifesaver to us. The Medela breast pump that we purchased six years ago for our son is still pushing along for our daughter, and with infant formula costing almost $20 a can (depending on the size), we are saving a considerable amount of money. CLICK HERE FOR A CHART.

The other benefit of pumping is that I actually get to help with the feedings. We keep several containers of milk in the fridge and have almost a gallon in the basement freezer for when my wife returns to work.

There has been some controversy about breastfeeding in public and from experience I don’t have a problem with it, as long as it’s discreet. We were recently at a neighborhood diner when Sabrina finished the bottle we brought with us and demanded more to eat. I don’t think any crying child should be left hungry, so my wife covered herself with a blanket and let the baby feed.

Some people go further to argue that women shouldn’t have to cover themselves during public breastfeeding, but I honestly feel more comfortable with a little discretion. Why? I’m not completely sure. However, I know that we had a long talk with our son explaining to him what breastfeeding was all about before his sister was born, but I can’t assume the other parents in the diner with their kids felt the same way or had that same discussion. Some families don’t breast feed at all, but now they have to explain to their kid why that lady whipped out her privates to feed a baby.

When we’re in public, we all make polite concessions – even if we’re within our legal rights. We don’t HAVE to cover our noses when we sneeze, but aren’t we all glad we do? Word to the Swine Flu.

How afraid are you of saggy boobs?

How far would you go to prevent saggy boobs? Interesting question, I know! Well, some mothers in the UK have decided to take cabergoline, a drug normally prescribed to HIV-positive patients to stop milk production, to avoid the effect that breastfeeding would have on their breasts. Moms are opting to take the meds for what is being described as “social reasons.” According to an article in the Daily Mail (a UK-based paper), an obstetrician in London who has prescribed cabergoline to patients who could not or did not want to breastfeed said, “For some women their breasts are an important part of their sexuality and they don’t want to use them to provide milk.”

Come again?

Rant initiating in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…

Okay moms, let’s be honest with ourselves: pregnancy alone changes your life in so many ways, and many of us look for ways to maintain our sexy throughout. We slab on the cocoa butter, even take a few yoga classes, and look for all the old wives’ tales on how to bounce back after delivery faster. I completely understand the desire to keep the “girls” in tip-top shape, but some things are made to stretch and expand during pregnancy – your breasts, your belly, and your (as Oprah would say) vajayjay. For the most part, everything snaps back to the way it used to be, save a few changes in the look or feel of things (for the good or bad). It also must be said that it has been a proven that breastfeeding does not cause saggy breasts; in fact, in a study by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, there was no difference in the degree of breast sagging between women who breast fed and those who didn’t. It is the actual weight gain/loss of each pregnancy that contributes to the change in firmness and breast shape. Either way, your breasts were made for milking. I’m sure your boo may have lead you to believe otherwise, but there is nothing more natural than the milk that you produce for your child. I’m not judging those that have opted not to breastfeed because of medical reasons, but speaking to those that choose not to for vanity purposes. The benefits of breastfeeding your child outweigh the cons. It has been proven that breast-fed infants have lower rates of ear infections, respiratory infections, allergies, and other medical problems. For moms, breastfeeding may help reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and postpartum depression. If that’s not incentive enough, breastfeeding also helps you burn calories while nurturing your child, which helps your body “bounce back” after delivery.
To read more on the benefits of breastfeeding, visit womenshealth.gov

And for tips on successful breastfeeding go to fda.gov.

Woman arrested for breastfeeding while driving

How far would you go for a child in need?

It’s a general fact that breastfeeding during infancy is better for a baby’s health, but what about yours? According to a new study, the longer a woman breastfeeds, the lower her risk is for heart attack or stroke. Says EurekAlert,

The longer women breastfeed, the lower their risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiovascular disease, report University of Pittsburgh researchers in a study published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women, so it’s vitally important for us to know what we can do to protect ourselves,” said Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, M.D., M.S., assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. “We have known for years that breastfeeding is important for babies’ health; we now know that it is important for mothers’ health as well.”

According to the study, postmenopausal women who breastfed for at least one month had lower rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, all known to cause heart disease. Women who had breastfed their babies for more than a year were 10 percent less likely to have had a heart attack, stroke, or developed heart disease than women who had never breastfed.

Now, this doesn’t mean you should nurse your children until they’re potty trained, but this article provides good food for thought!