Breastfeeding
Homesteading is about working with the land around you and knowing how to keep yourself self sufficient. Breastfeeding is also. You are working with your body (your land) to do what it was meant to do all along (provide your baby with the very best nutrition available). It's a skill moms and babies both must learn to be successful, and it promotes complete self reliance in the act of feeding your child. You don't need to rely on anything other than nourishing yourself to provide milk for your baby.
Let's consider a few benefits of breastfeeding:
It's completely, 100% free
No mess, no bother. Forget about warming water and mixing powder. No washing bottles either.
No additives necessary to provide your baby with the very best nutrition for at least the first six months of its life (I've nursed my children exclusively up to about 9 months, then started gradually introducing solid foods - I know other moms who have safely nourished their baby themselves through breastmilk alone up to around a year and even longer. Your child will let you know when he or she is ready for more, so don't stick hard and fast to the six-month rule. And when you do begin introducing solid foods, continue breastfeeding!)
Power outage? No problem! Milk is already warm, ready on demand and requires no storage, electricity, appliances or anything other than your body.
Some interesting facts about breastfeeding:
If you adopt a newborn, chances are still good you can still produce milk. Pregnancy is not a requirement to start milk production in your body.
Your breastmilk changes to suit the nutritional needs of your growing baby. If your baby is premature, your breastmilk is formulated for your baby's needs as a preemie. The nutrition of breastmilk for a newborn is different for that of a 6 month old!
Though not often suggested from your doctor, breastmilk has been known to take care or pinkeye, help heal diaper rash, irritated/scratched eyes and aid in the healing of minor cuts and scratches. It's also wonderful to include in the (cold) meals/cereals for older children or family members, as breastmilk contains antibodies that will help keep everyone healthy. I've known women who have expressed breastmilk and made shakes for their husbands when they were beginning to get sick, and women who have expressed breastmilk for sick/elderly family members on a feeding tube instead of having them fed just adult formula. Both produced wonderful results. Breastmilk, especially colostrum (the first milk your breasts produce right before/after having a baby) is liquid gold! Just don't heat it up too high or microwave it, as that will kill the live properties of breastmilk that give it its own superpowers, and very possibly burn your baby's mouth from 'hot spots'!
Breastfeeding your baby not only provides nourishment in terms of food, but also incredible bonding. Newborns need to suck - it's a reflex and helps soothe them.
Continue nursing even if you feel sick. You produce antibodies that will protect your child. The Christmas of 2007 my entire family came down with a horrible case of the flu, myself included. My son, who was about 14 months old and still breastfed at the time, never got sick in the slightest!
Breastfed babies tend to be overall healthier. It seems that breastfeeding gives their developing body the boost it needs to grow healthy and strong, because breastfed babies tend to be healthier in general through their lives.
To get started or if you run into trouble:
Ideally, take a breastfeeding class during your pregnancy to help you prepare. You can do this through the hospital or birth center that you plan to birth at, or seek out independent childbirth or breastfeeding educators.
Start attending (free) La Leche League meetings. This is a breastfeeding support group full of moms who are pregnant, nursing, weaning, considering breastfeeding or just there to help out and lend advice. Each meeting has a specific topic, but usually by the end of the meeting you are encouraged to ask questions on anything relating to breastfeeding, not necessarily the topic of the meeting.
Contact a local Breastfeeding Counselor, Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, Breastfeeding/Lactation Educator or even your Childbirth Educator if you have problems. Most communities have an abundance of breastfeeding support, don't give up if you run into a problem (most are easily fixed!)