Addicted to Nursing

Hi, my name is Beth and I am addicted to nursing.

Yes, there can be worse things out there to be addicted to, but do you know how amazing nursing is? I could get up on a soapbox and tell you all about the wonderful things nursing does for Baby, I'm not talking about Baby here. I'm talking about me.

First of all, I'm burning 500 extra calories a day to make this milk. That's a few extra candy bars I can munch on happily. While I am still trying to lose this baby weight and I know the candy bars don't help much (and I really don't eat that many- I think we are all out of the Halloween chocolate anyway), it's nice to know that I have that excuse to eat a little more.

Secondly, can we say larger chest? Husband really appreciates this one. I never had any kind of chest before, and now I do. Why would I want to give that up?

Third, while nursing I get to hold my gorgeous child and gaze lovingly into her eyes. It's the only time she will sit still with me (even books don't get her attention- I can only get about a page in until she is off and crawling). Nursing holds her in place so I can hold her.

Fourth, and the best part of all, I haven't started my monthly cycle yet. Yes, I know all you ladies out there are jealous that I haven't had a period in over eighteen months. That's a year and a half! Go ahead and be jealous. I would be.

Do you see now why I am addicted to nursing? Sure, it involves pumping a few times a day at work, but that's nothing compared to the benefits I get. Oh, and not to mention the less superficial stuff like women who nurse have a lower risk of breast cancer and other diseases (I added in the other diseases part, but it's probably true).

So will I be the crazy lady nursing her four year old child? Probably not. I'm sure Baby will have weaned herself by then. Maybe.