Breastfeeding is lauded worldwide as one of the healthiest things mothers can do for their babies. And after nursing my two daughters for a combined three years, I'll be the first to jump up and sing its praises. The nutritional benefits for both mom and baby are so vast that experts haven't even discovered them all yet. The relational bond it forms and sense of pride that arises from nourishing your baby with your own body is unlike any other. However, like anything, there are a few breastfeeding risks you should know about if you haven't already taken the proper precautions to take care of yourself and your baby while you're nursing.
Like every aspect of motherhood, breastfeeding can take its toll on a mother's body, if she doesn't take necessary steps to ensure that she is as healthy as possible. Similarly, although the risks for baby are vastly different than they are for mothers, there are certain scenarios where drinking a mother's breast milk could be dangerous for babies (such as when drugs and alcohol are present in the milk.)
So while breastfeeding is still recommended for babies everywhere, according to Dr. Sears, like all good things in life, when not handled properly, it can be less beneficial than it should be. Here are a few of the risks, albeit small ones, that come with breastfeeding.