After giving birth, every mother wants to know what she can do to take care of her newborn baby. What’s the best way to feed him? How often should you breastfeed? Should you use breastfeeding pumps? I have good news for you: the benefits of breastfeeding are numerous and they go beyond the basics. In this article, I’ll give you a list of 10 amazing benefits and tips on how to have a wonderful breastfeeding experience.
Breastmilk is naturally perfect for your baby.
Breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for babies. Breast milk should be the baby’s first food and a baby’s only food for the first 6 months of life. It is nutritionally balanced to meet a baby’s needs, easy to digest, always available, and never spoiled. Breast milk is also full of antibodies and other important nutrients.
Breastmilk offers your baby the best protection against illness.
This is an important one for parents to know. Breastfeeding indeed offers the best protection against illness for babies, but it’s helpful for you as a mother as well. It helps reduce your risk of postpartum depression and can help prevent some types of osteoporosis and breast cancer.
Additionally, breastmilk offers your baby the best protection against illness, especially in infancy when their immune systems are still developing. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), ear infections, childhood asthma, childhood obesity, and allergies. Plus it helps protect against infections like meningitis and pneumonia.
A recent pharmacology study of breast milk found it contains immunological proteins, antioxidants, and trace elements that have antimicrobial properties against many viruses. These properties help protect babies from respiratory infections, including the common cold and is overall packed with antibodies to boost their immune system and keep them healthy.
Breastmilk keeps your baby’s digestive system well-tuned.
Breastmilk provides all of the nutrition and hydration your baby needs for his or her first six months, and it contains antibodies to keep your baby healthy by boosting his or her immune system.
Here’s another reason why breast milk is good: It can be easily digested by your infant, meaning that you don’t have to worry about him spending energy on digesting his food instead of growing.
A mother’s milk promotes a good night’s sleep for her child.
In addition to being a great source of nutrition, breastmilk can help your baby sleep better. This is because the nutrients found in breastmilk are digested more easily than in formula. The digestive properties of breast milk are also known to be calming for babies, which helps them get to sleep more quickly and stay asleep longer.
A baby who is sleeping well will likely be a happier baby and less fussy during the day as well. Babies who are not getting enough sleep generally cry more than well-rested babies. This can be stressful for both you and your child! A newborn that manages to nurse well at night often has a contented mommy as well!
Breastmilk helps children learn how to eat, socialize and move in a way that supports their growing bodies.
You know how it feels when someone is watching your every move, so does your baby. Breastfed children have been shown to develop a more advanced social-emotional development than those who are fed formula. They adapt to new experiences and environments more quickly and easily, which can help them develop their communication skills.
Breastfeeding helps babies learn how to move.
Babies are born with the instinct to suckle regardless of how they’re fed, but breastfeeding provides an environment that teaches them how to use their muscles properly.
The way they nurse demands a certain motion in their jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles that promotes better development in these areas. It also enhances the connections between these parts of the body and the brain — all while promoting healthy eating habits.
Breastfeeding encourages a healthy and strong bond.
Breastfeeding builds an emotional bond between mother and child. As your baby nurses, she’ll get lost in the warm comfort of your embrace, gazing deep into your eyes and connecting with you on a level she can’t experience any other way. Trust me, you’ll be just as lost in the moment as well.
Breastmilk is free.
I’m sure you’ve realized that the cost of EVERYTHING is increasing rapidly. Breastmilk doesn’t have to answer to inflation. While there are products that can help make your journey more comfortable, they aren’t necessary to have a successful breastfeeding journey.
Breastfeeding is convenient.
Breastfeeding is a convenient and easy way to feed your child. You never have to worry about running out of formula, or packing enough bottles when you leave the house. Breastmilk is always available at the right temperature.
Breastfeeding can help you lose weight.
Some of the weight gained during pregnancy is used to build up your milk supply, which can help you lose weight after pregnancy. Breastfeeding can help you shed the excess weight gained during your pregnancy. Nursing burns additional calories — anywhere from 300 to 500 per day, which can help you lose pregnancy weight faster.
Breastmilk evolves as your baby grows.
One of my favorite benefits of breastfeeding is that it evolves as your baby grows. I find this fascinating! The composition of breastmilk changes in response to your baby’s age, illness, feeding frequency, and length of feeding.
The first milk you produce, colostrum, is a golden yellow color. It’s very thick, with a high concentration of nutrients, antibodies, and immune factors. Your breasts produce colostrum for the first few days after your baby’s birth.
After about three to five days, your breasts start producing mature milk that is thinner and whiter in color. Mature milk provides the ideal balance of nutrients for your baby’s ongoing growth and development.
The benefits of breastfeeding are amazing. I’ve shared some of my favorite tips to help you gave a successful breastfeeding journey from day 1 here. While I’m an advocate for breastfeeding, the reality is that some women just can’t. I love the saying that “a fed baby is a happy baby”. The most important thing to remember is that you have to care for your baby the best way you can. So, if you’re a mama who can’t or chose not to breastfeed, good job mama. If you’re a mama who chose to breastfeed, good job mama.
Are you a breastfeeding mama? What is your favorite benefit? Comment below!
XOXO, JD
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