Breast milk is the best source of nutrients for babies. It contains a relatively ideal balance of vitamins, protein, and fat, providing your baby with all he or she requires to develop. And it's all in a more readily digestible way than baby formula.
Let's find out more about the benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby!
The nursing process can be challenging and too excruciating to keep up with. But you'll be surprised to know that both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend mothers to breastfeed their babies for six months exclusively.
The AAP and WHO advise continuing breastfeeding for at least the first year, with new foods introduced at six months. After that one year, mothers are advised to follow the "don't ask and don't refuse" strategy.
This means if the child wants to continue nursing, they can ask for it and you can breastfeed them, however, avoid asking them to breastfeed. This way, both the mother and the child can withdraw without having to experience any challenges.
Let's now take a look at the perks of breastfeeding:
Breast Milk Is Rich with Antibodies
Immunoglobulins are antibodies found in colostrum and breast milk. They are a form of protein that helps a mom to pass on immunity to her infant.
A breastfeeding woman's body produces different antibodies passed on by her breast milk whenever mom is exposed to viruses and bacteria. Milk contains environment-specific antibodies, while the formula does not.
Donor milk does have antibodies but fewer antibodies than mother's milk, most likely due to the pasteurization process needed when milk is donated.
Breastfeeding Can Make Your Baby Smarter
Studies show breastfed children have more significant levels of intellectual capacity. Breastfeeding in babies helps to boost brain development.
Breastfeeding May Help Prevent Obesity
Breast milk may improve your youngster's health in later years by reducing the risk of being overweight. According to the concept, breastfeeding mothers become responsive to signs that their baby is full and do not overfeed.
Breastfeeding lowers the risk of SIDS by 60 percent. This protective effect increases the longer the baby is breastfed and if the baby is exclusively breastfed.
Breastfeeding for Cancer Prevention
Breastfeeding gives your infant advantages. But it also helps your health!
Breastfeeding can reduce your breast cancer risk. The longer you breastfeed your baby, the stronger your resistance against the disease.
Want a smaller waist after baby? Breastfeeding will make it possible for you!
Breastfeeding for at least six months results in a smaller waist and a smaller hip circumference for mothers, even 15 years after delivery. Breastfeeding helps to burn around 500 extra calories every day, consequently helping you drop the baby weight more quickly.
Breastfeeding lowers the risk of Postpartum depression.
After giving birth, 20% of mothers go through postpartum depression. But breastfeeding can help lower the rates of postpartum depression for up to four months after giving birth. The act of nursing also allows moms to recover faster from these symptoms.
Breastfeeding has challenges but breast is best for many reasons! It has health benefits for both yourself and your baby! Working with a lactation consultant improves the length of the exclusive breastfeeding so reach out to a lactation counselor if you are experiencing challenges with breastfeeding to get the support you need.
Remember as a MaternalWell member you have a 30% discount on 1-to-1 telehealth consultations with any specialists, so take advantage of that and book a virtual lactation counselor visit to support your breastfeeding goals! As always, contact our text support for any general questions!