Importance Of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the best way of nourishing babies. Today, most mothers breastfeed their babies as the proper growth depends on the initial six months of a baby’s life. Families have started to support a woman to breastfeed longer, up to 2 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests continuous breastfeeding with extra semi-solid foods to enhance milk. Ideally, a woman should breastfeed their babies for 2 years as there are many benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child. Children without proper care in these years suffer from malnutrition.
Some breastfeeding tips include causing baby’s proper growth, brain development, and nutrition. Additionally, it protects the child from diabetes and improves learning ability. However, some women don’t breastfeed their child for more than a year. As they don’t understand the difference breastfeeding makes to their baby’s health.
Breastfeeding benefits both your little one and you. This article shares 10 breastfeeding advantages for the mother and child.
Benefits Of Breastfeeding
1. Nutrients and Protection
Breast milk is the safest and best baby food with valuable antibodies. It is always fresh and helps the baby to properly develop. The baby easily consume breast milk because it has less fuss and mess!
Studies have proved that the breast milk contains fatty acids which can help prevent babies from developing food as well as respiratory allergies. Certain research on the benefits of breastfeeding, suggests that breastfeeding help prevents asthma and eczema. Breast milk help prevents disease and allergies. The first breast milk, after delivery, prevents harmful bacteria which might have entered baby’s digestive system. This milk is even more necessary if the baby is born prematurely!
2. Brain Power
DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, is the most important nutrient found in breast milk. It helps in brain development. It is a significant ingredient for growth and maintenance of cerebrum tissue. A research proves that the minds of breastfed children possess a greater DHA concentration. It further claims that DHA levels are highest in children who are breastfed for more time. Most formulas don’t contain DHA. Children will receive proper supplements for their developing mind only when their breastfeeding moms receive a proper diet. According to a survey, breastfed babies score higher on IQ tests. Research suggests that breastfed babies are smarter than others.
3. Convenient and Portable
Breast milk is exactly the correct temperature. It makes woman’ life simple since there is no additional work of preparing, washing and sterilizing the feeding equipment. No need to boil water/milk and sterilize bottles at night or while traveling and shopping. Additionally, breastfeeding doesn’t need bringing bottles and heaters. Supply the baby with every nutrition they require without any major hassle or price tag.
4. Prevents Cancer and Osteoporosis
The study shows that the benefits of breastfeeding can minimize the woman’s danger of ovarian and breast cancer. Breastfeeding suppresses her body’s release of estrogen. Breastfeeding moms have the lesser danger of developing cancer.
Recent research has found that when a mother breastfeeds their baby for 1 or 2 years, she reduces the danger of cancer by more than 25%. The more a mother breastfeeds, the lesser the risk of cancer. Research also suggest that breastfeeding may increase bone density and reduce the mother’s risk of osteoporosis and fractures in future.
5. Builds the Special Relationship
The closeness amid breastfeeding improves the mother’s relationship with the newborns. It is the best thing a mother does to make a secure, loving bond. Every mom wants to pamper their baby. Give the baby all the cuddling she or he likes. Breastfeeding provides mother a unique way to bond with their little bundle of joy. Even, research has indicated that a baby’s suckling can discharge the hormone oxytocin that strengthens maternal love and helps mothers make a bond with their baby.
6. Prevents Childhood Obesity
As breastfed babies fed on demand, they learn to stop consuming when they are replete. Hence, breastfed babies neither suffer from childhood obesity and nor become obese adults. Research also shows that food taste may be passed on amid nursing. As a breastfeeding mother must eat a nutrient rich diet, babies get the taste of healthy foods in their initial stages.
The study indicates that breast milk is necessary as it is the only food or drink the baby requires for their initial stages of life. After 6 months, the babies require a range of foods besides breast milk. It continuously gives nutrition and protection. Many mothers continuously breastfed babies for more than two years, as recommended by Health Canada. Breast milk protects infants but, only with the right foods. There are certain foods to avoid while breastfeeding. Ensure that you are aware of what these are!
7. Easy on the Budget
The benefits of breastfeeding are priceless processes which offer you with several health benefits as well as helps you in cutting the expenditure on formula feed and equipment. Breastfeeding saves the money! Without any doubt, breastfeeding saves thousands of rupees every month. Babies experience a huge amount of formula in one week. The cost to feed infants increase as they grow. Breastfeeding is a unique way to cut expenses during the baby’s initial months of life.
8. Immunological Benefits
Research has indicated that infants that continuously breastfed for the initial stages of life usually don’t develop an ear and respiratory diseases. Additionally, breastfed infants had a lower incidence of gastrointestinal problems. The cause behind this is that breast milk gives babies key antibodies that prevent them from infections and diseases.
9. Post-Pregnancy Weight Loss
Breastfeeding can help a woman to quickly lose their pregnancy weight. Their body require tremendous energy to release breast milk. So they can burn huge calories just by feeding their child. Breastfeeding uses more than 200 to 500 calories daily. This calories loss in breastfeeding moms occurs without any need to put energy on their part. Hence, breastfeeding moms shed pounds more effortlessly.
Studies also indicate that this act usually protects a woman from breast or ovarian cancer and weak bones in future. As breastfeeding requires a lot of calories, it helps in losing weight which they gained during pregnancy. Regular breastfeeding might delay the return of menstruation.
Breastfeeding is not an ideal option for every mom. But, mothers who nurse their babies can anticipate getting the tremendous benefits that breastfeeding offers. Undoubtedly, breastfeeding provides positive results for both baby and mother. However, besides health benefits of breastfeeding, it gives a maternal fulfillment. Breastfeeding process is a unique emotional bonding experience that every mother and child are encouraged to experience.
