As a new mom, I was so excited and overjoyed to have my new baby bundle of joy in my arms. Soon after the arrival of my baby girl, I entered into my journey with breastfeeding. It was a difficult task. My daughter did not latch on well and I had little help in figuring out just what to do. I continued to nurse but it did take about 4 weeks for it to become a natural process. My baby girl continued to breastfeed until she was 27 months old. I never would have guessed during those first 4 weeks that it would be a bonding experience. I new the health benefits for her and was determined to stick with it. I later found that it was extremely beneficial to relax me as well. I looked forward to nourishing my daughter through breastfeeding and the relaxing benefits helped me to be at my best for her, a little less stressed! 

I found the article below at Breastfeeding.com explaining the relaxing benefits of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding itself is a calming act.  Sitting or lying down several times a day while you are snuggling a secure, comfortable baby is sure to make even a hyperactive person slow down.  But the most high-strung of us may need nature's other little benefit...the drugs.

Yes, during the breastfeeding process your brain will manufacture chemicals that will calm you, give you a feeling of well-being and promote maternal behavior.  Your baby's sucking stimulates nerve endings in the areolae, which send messages to your hypothalamus and pituitary gland (in your brain, causing them to start releasing oxytocin and prolactin, breastfeeding hormones that will begin to calm and relax you. 

A study published in the Journal of Nurse Midwives indicated that breastfeeding women have less anxiety than their formula-feeding counterparts.

love, to the moon and back,

Donna

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