Breastfeeding

To decide to Breastfeed your child is to choose to begin your baby’s life in the healthiest way possible and to provide a bonding experience for you and your child like no other! Yet only thirty per cent of women choose to breastfeed. While some are unable to breastfeed, others simply choose not to. 

Breast milk is exceptionally nutritious for the baby, and there are multiple health benefits of breastfeeding for both – the mother and the child. Read on for the advantages of breastfeeding and how it can help you and your child. 

 

#1 – IDEAL NUTRITION FOR BABIES

Breastmilk contains all the vital nutrients in the right amounts, a baby needs for the first six months of his life. The composition of the milk changes according to the baby’s changing needs! Breastfeeding is recommended for at least a year as new, solid foods are introduced in the baby’s diet. 

For the first few days after birth, thick yellowish milk called colostrum is produced in the mother’s body which contains antibodies and protein. It helps the baby’s digestive tract to develop. The amount of milk produced increases as the baby’s stomach grows. 

 

#2 – ANTIBODIES FOR BABIES

Breast milk, especially colostrum, the first milk, is packed with antibodies which help the baby fight off diseases. Colostrum provides very high amounts of IgA (immunoglobulin A) as well as other antibodies which help fight off bacteria, viruses, and allergens. 

The antibodies produced in the mother are passed onto the child through breast milk, therefore protecting the baby from numerous illnesses. 

Various studies show that babies who are not breastfed are more susceptible to health issues like Diarrhoea, Pneumonia, and other infections. 

 

#3 – REDUCED RISK OF DISEASE FOR BABIES

If your child has only breast milk for several months, it can reduce your baby’s risk of many illnesses and diseases like Middle ear infections, Respiratory tract infections, colds and infections, Gut infections, Intestinal tissue damage, sudden infant death syndrome  (SIDS), Allergic diseases, Celiac disease, Inflammatory bowel disease, Diabetes and Childhood leukaemia. 

Breastfeeding also significantly reduces the severity of these diseases and infections in addition to reducing the risk of many of these infections. 

 

#4 – PROMOTES HEALTHY WEIGHT IN BABIES

Breastfeeding helps prevent childhood obesity and promotes a healthy weight. Studies show that obesity rates in breastfed babies are fifteen to thirty per cent lower than formula-fed babies. 

This could be because of the development of beneficial gut bacteria in breastfed babies which affects the fat storage in the body. They also have higher levels of leptin in their bodies which is the satiety hormone and regulates appetite and fat storage. 

 

#5 – WEIGHT LOSS FOR MOTHERS

The energy demands of breastfeeding mothers increase by five hundred calories per day, and the hormonal balance in the body is very different during this time. These hormonal changes may make the body more prone to storing fat for milk production. So, for the first three months, they may not lose any weight, however, after three months, they are likely to experience an increase in the fat burning capacity of their bodies. This increased fat burning capacity helps lactating mothers lose weight. 

But keep in mind that diet and exercise are still the most critical factors which determine how much weight you will lose! So, don’t just rely on breastfeeding to shed those extra pounds gained during pregnancy! 

 

#6 – HELPS UTERUS CONTRACT

Post-delivery, the uterus undergoes a process called involution, which helps it contract to its standard size. Oxytocin helps the body with this process. High amounts of Oxytocin are released during labour to help ease the pain and aid in the delivery of the child.  

Oxytocin is also released during breastfeeding, which encourages the uterus to contract and reduces bleeding. 

 

#7 – LOWER RISK OF DEPRESSION IN MOTHERS

Almost 15% of mothers are affected by Postpartum depression, which is a type of depression that women can develop shortly after giving birth. 

Breastfeeding causes hormonal changes in the body which encourage maternal care and bonding. One of these changes is the increased Oxytocin in the body. Oxytocin is one of the hormones which help regulate a person’s mood and make them happy. It promotes nurturing and encourages bonding. The anti-anxiety effects of Oxytocin are long-term. 

 

#8 – MAY PREVENT MENSTRUATION

Breastfeeding pauses ovulation and menstruation in women. This could be the body’s natural way to keep an appropriate gap between two pregnancies. 

Given the amazing benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the child, it is totally worth pushing past the problems that you might experience at first. So, choose to breastfeed, choose healthy living! 

 

By Nt. Heena Gupta