Loving parents would do anything for their children. Whether that be standing in the cold rain watching a 0-0 soccer game where nobody seems to know where the ball is or using a breast pump during your lunch hour, the sacrifices we make for our children come naturally. Breastfeeding is one such sacrifice that many mothers make to give their babies the best possible start in life. Our modern world does not make breastfeeding easy, but even busy professionals have found a way to make it work!
Unfortunately, nursing can also be difficult on a woman’s body. Many mothers find that their bodies are permanently changed after breastfeeding. Today, we will review some of the basics of breastfeeding as well as some options for mothers to regain their pre-baby bodies through different cosmetic procedures.
Health Benefits of Breastfeeding Your Baby
Before discussing the health benefits of breastfeeding, we should first state that the decision of whether to breastfeed or use formula is a highly personal matter. Some mothers are unable to breastfeed for a number of reasons, and this decision should never be viewed from a negative point of view. With that being said, here are some potential breastfeeding health benefits for baby:
Breast milk provides complete nutrition. There is a reason breastfeeding is recommended by organizations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The primary one being that breast milk provides the protein, vitamins, fat, and caloric components that your baby needs!
Breast milk has the ability to stave off illness. Another key component of breast milk is its antibodies. These antibodies help your baby to combat common viral and bacterial illnesses. Babies who breastfeed for a minimum of 6 months have been shown to have fewer hospital visits, ear infections, diarrhea, and the list goes on.
Breastfeeding has been linked to healthy older children. The benefits of breastfeeding don’t stop at infancy. Older children who breastfed enjoy lower rates of diabetes, obesity, higher IQ scores, and are more likely to hit their developmental milestones.
How Breastfeeding Affects the Mother’s Body
While we are about to discuss some of the less desirable effects that breastfeeding can have on women’s bodies, there are also a number of significant health benefits. Such benefits to breastfeeding your child include a natural way to lose the baby weight, releasing hormones including oxytocin and prolactin which promote mental wellbeing and help to heal the uterus, lower rates of ovarian cancer, and many more! With all of this in mind, there are also some changes that women would rather not experience during and after nursing, including:
Back problems: breastfeeding isn’t as leisurely as one might imagine. It can be uncomfortable and difficult for a number of reasons. Many mothers find that the position and long sessions can lead to back pain.
Bruising: your little guy or gal isn’t messing around. Babies can clamp down and cause cuts or bruises on the breasts. These often recover over time, but can sometimes lead to scarring and other complications.
Your breasts will change: nipples may harden (see, toughening up from being chewed on), breasts may get larger, and a number of other changes during breastfeeding. We will discuss this in greater detail below.
Carpal tunnel, cramping, and body pain: sitting in a chair holding your little one doesn’t sound to taxing until you are really doing it for hours every day. Carpal tunnel, cramping, and even lower bone density are all common side effects from nursing. Remember that you are essentially sharing your nutrition with another human being! This can lead to depleted levels of vitamins and other essentials like calcium.
Breast Rejuvenation for Mother After Breastfeeding
There is no question that pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding all change a woman’s body permanently. It is a beautiful, natural process, but also one that leaves some women not recognizing themselves in the mirror. When it comes to breastfeeding, the primary complaint from most women is that their breasts have sagged after breastfeeding stopped.
This is why cosmetic surgeons often recommend a breast augmentation or breast rejuvenation procedure for mothers after breastfeeding. This can also be accomplished through a breast lift with fat grafting to reshape breasts. These types of procedures can also address issues where breastfeeding has changed the position and/or shape of the nipples. As with many cosmetic procedures, it is truly up to the patient and the doctor exactly what to enhance. The great news is that there are a number of beneficial, positive options for mothers who want to reverse the sometimes difficult effects of breastfeeding.
Join us for SCALE 2020 to Discuss Cosmetic Procedures and More!
To learn more about beauty trends, beauty theory, non-invasive procedures, laser tech, and much more, join us from July 22-25, 2020 for our annual Music City Scale Conference! SCALE is the premier multidisciplinary meeting for aesthetic medicine, surgery and dermatology in the United States. Join other industry professionals to discuss industry trends, emerging technologies, and much more.
What started as a small gathering amongst colleagues 14 years ago has turned into the biggest party of the year within the field of aesthetic dermatology. Join us alongside hundreds of attendees and industry vendors to find out what you’ve been missing!
