Secret Benefits of Breastfeeding

Practically every night, for the last 7+ years, I have sat on the couch and breastfed a baby to sleep.  At some point during those evenings, I usually decide I'd like a cup of tea.  The problem is that since I'm trapped under a sleeping baby, I can't get up and make said cup.  So my wonderful, amazing, husband has done it for me.  Every night.  For 7+ years.  
I asked him to put the kettle on the other day and it occurred to me, that although as much as I love that he does this for me, and I'm sure he doesn't hate it, it is not likely something that he would do so consistently if I wasn't nursing.  
That got me thinking, there has to be some other benefits of breastfeeding that aren't listed on traditional channels.  Things that are happy outcomes that nursing mothers can take advantage of, but not benefits doctors or health care providers would promote. 
So here you go - My list of 11 Secret Benefits of Breastfeeding 

1.  Nursing a newborn can be a big time commitment, even when  everything is going as it should.  Evenings with a cluster feeding baby can be long.  VERY LONG.
What better time to binge watch that show that you've always wanted to see?  Or to re-watch one that you love?!  
And it doesn't have to be evenings either - binge watching with a newborn can happen any time!  Baby gets comfy on your chest and falls asleep? You're stuck!  You obviously have to stay there until baby wakes from their nap several hours later.  
Time for a Friends marathon!

2.  Remember that whole 'eating for two' that happens during pregnancy?  In order to maintain pre-pregnancy weight while breastfeeding the recommendation is that you continue to eat an extra 300-500 calories each day.  That's basically an extra meal.  
Now, you can certainly choose to be health conscious, make good choices all that.  Or.....you can eat those calories in cookies and fancy coffee.  Totally your choice. 
​Just for reference, there are 45 calories in an Oreo cookie.  You know, for reference.

3.  Clothes.
Sure, it's totally possible to just wear regular clothing while you are breastfeeding your baby.  You can still be relatively discreet if that's what you want to do.  But, there are lots of companies that make clothes that make it easier, so why not take advantage of that?  Since there are people that make clothes for nursing, obviously, you need them!  (I'm kidding, you don't *need* anything, but any excuse to buy new clothes, right?)

4.  Generally, I really like people.  I think most people do.  But people have opinions, and all opinions aren't necessarily welcome.  Especially when you have a new baby. 
When you have a new baby there are LOTS of opinions.  LOTS. 
Here is where breastfeeding comes in. 
Even if you are perfectly comfortable nursing a baby in a room full of people, need an excuse to get out?  You have a built in one!  Take your baby - go somewhere and sit alone.  Play up the privacy card!  Go hide somewhere, get away from people, and opinions and sit alone (with your baby) for a bit.  It's a great escape!

5.  No one likes wiping bums.  It's something we all do, because we have to, and if we didn't, things would smell.  But lets be honest, right from that first meconium poop, this is NOT something you're looking forward to.
Guess what?  It's really hard to wipe a bum when you're trapped under a nursing baby.  It's tricky to do for an older child still in diapers but also for one who is older and just not interested in doing it themselves yet.  Plus, you're doing all that work feeding the baby.  Your partner needs to help in some way!

6.  There are actual, scientific studies that show that breastfeeding parents lose weight faster than those who aren't breastfeeding.  Which is good - who wants to carry around extra pounds if you don't have to?  Plus, weight loss =new clothes!  (or even just old clothes that you haven't worn in a year!)

7.  Math.  Or lack of math.  I am NOT a math person.  Never was, never will be.  I need a calculator to figure out basic equations.  Know what needs math?  Formula.  You need to figure out how much to water and formula you need for each bottle.  You need to plan how much to take when you're leaving the house.  You need to think!  Postpartum, I'm often lucky if I remember to put on pants, so just leaving the house with my baby is pretty much all I can handle.

8.  You know when you have a deadline and you're really stressed and you just wish you had an excuse to sit and drink a cup of tea and not think about cleaning or cooking or planning for 5 minutes?  Guess what?  When you have a nursing baby, you have that excuse!  
(you also have the added stress of needing to sit and feed the baby when all you have time to do is clean, cook and plan, but we're looking at hidden advantages so...)

9.  One of my favorite things about breastfeeding is doing it lying down.  It's so comfortable.  I don't need to hold anything, baby is happy, I'm comfortable.  And I'm lying down.  Lying down often leads to sleeping.  Sleeping is good.  Extra sleeping (especially when you're up all night?) AWESOME!

10.  Ask any parent, I'm pretty sure we all agree.  The worst time of the day?  Bedtime.  
Until your kids come and give you a kiss and tuck themselves into bed, bedtime SUCKS.  They want a story, and a glass of water and an extra trip to the bathroom and another cuddle, and can you just stay?  Will you lie with me until I fall asleep?  That story wasn't long enough.  Can I have another one?  He got a longer story than I did!  That's not fair.
And on and on and on it goes.
When you're breastfeeding though, you're often doing that while all of this is happening.  
You can maybe read a story, but tucking in?  Getting a drink?  That's up to someone else to do.  You're off the hook!

11.  When I started breastfeeding I began attending a weekly support group.  I met some amazing people there and some of those people are still some of my closest friends.  I wrote about the HERE.
Breastfeeding tends to creast a sisterhood.  We all struggle and we all support each other and at the end of it all, we've all been through it together!

So that's it - my list of 11 secret benefits of breastfeeding.
Are there others I forgot?  Comment and let me know!  I'd love to know your thoughts!