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The Ultimate Gift
from December 2020
Gò0dNews for Everyone
The Ultimate Gift
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by Karen D. Jeffery
With the holiday season coming up, him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life” most of us start thinking of the gift (John 3:16, The Message). list for our loved ones. Giving gifts He loved us so much that He gave us a gift, at Christmastime is one way of showing we have the gift of His Son, Jesus, to be the way back to love and compassion for the people we hold dear Him. That gift is the best, most amazing, most to our hearts. expensive, most valuable gift ever given, and
Just like you, I love to give gifts at Christmas it was given to us free of charge. The story of also. I look for ways to give meaningful gifts Christmas is the story of God’s love becoming real to others as well. But the real reason for the and available to each and every person because celebration is to give Jesus the honor and praise He loved us enough to give us Jesus. Because He for what we have reserved as His birthday. It loved, He gave. reflects the greatest gift ever given, the gift of a That’s why at Christmas, we celebrate and Rescuer, a Savior, the Messiah, the Christ. The real honor the gift of love that God has given us in story of Christmas is deeper than the story of the Jesus Christ. So this Christmas, above all the manger and the shepherds, the wise men and the noise, above all the action and activities, above star. It’s really found in the words of Jesus: “This all the shopping and shipping and buying and is how much God loved the world: He gave wrapping, remember this: God loved you so much his Son, his one and only Son. And this that He gave you His very best for you. is why: so that no one need be May this thought carry you through this destroyed; by believing in season of generosity.
About The Author Karen D. Jeffery loves the Heavenly Father, her family, and her church. Keep looking up Jesus is coming soon.
Doctor On Call: Questions About Breastfeeding
by Laura Asbury
How does your dual role as a pediatrician and lactation consultant help moms with breastfeeding?
One of the biggest stresses for new moms is breastfeeding. Even though it’s completely natural, it’s not always easy. I’ve seen many tearful moms in my office who were experiencing a painful latch, concerned about their milk supply, or worried about other breastfeeding problems. As a pediatrician who is certified in lactation counseling, I can provide some much-needed support for these moms, and it’s a great way to help my little patients get off to a healthy start.
What are some advantages for babies who breastfeed?
The advantages of breastfeeding for babies go far beyond filling up a hungry belly. Breast milk is the best food for babies during the first year of life (with the addition of baby foods after six months). In addition to the perfect balance of nutrients to help a baby grow, breast milk helps reduce illnesses like ear infections, pneumonia, and diarrhea, as well as lowering the impact of respiratory illnesses.
Breastfeeding helps decrease the incidence of asthma and eczema. The rates of obesity and type 1 diabetes are much lower in breastfed infants as compared to formula-fed infants, and breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and childhood leukemia.
How can mothers benefit from breastfeeding?
There are several maternal benefits of breastfeeding, and lactation plays an important role in a woman’s longterm health. Breastfeeding can help lower the lifetime risks of metabolic disease often associated with insulin resistance and high cholesterol brought on during pregnancy.
It can also reduce maternal obesity and lower the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease (including heart attacks). Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes after developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce a mother’s risk for endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancers. Long-term studies have shown that the longer a woman breastfeeds, the more she can reduce her breast cancer risk, particularly in the most aggressive forms of the disease.
What kind of support do you give breastfeeding moms?
I encourage my patients often because they need to hear the effort they’re making for their own health and the longterm health of their baby is the first step in helping them be successful in this endeavor.
I tell my patients that breastfeeding is a labor of love because it’s not always an easy, painless journey. Infants often need to be fed every 1-3 hours for the first few weeks of life. This can create mental and physical exhaustion for the mom on top of the fluctuating hormones that occur after delivery.
I can offer successful strategies for breastfeeding, address factors that have a negative impact on the motherbaby bond, and support them through difficult seasons which make lifelong impacts for both mom and baby.
About The Author
Laura Asbury, MD, CLC, is a pediatrician with Beacon’s Children’s Diagnostic Center who has more than 15 years’ experience caring for children and has recently become a certified lactation counselor to give new moms and babies added support in their breastfeeding journey. She earned her medical degree from the University of Tennessee School of Medicine and completed her residency at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga.
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