A newborn needs their mother’s milk as their first meal. This is the essence of breastfeeding, with its numerous benefits both for the mother and her baby. Let’s read from the experts: the pediatricians, lactation specialists, and the OB-GYNs.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months following birth. Breast milk contains essential elements in sufficient amounts and proportions to meet the infant’s nutritional needs.
Also, it’s best if the baby continues to breastfeed beyond six months since breast milk can complement solid foods when your baby is introduced. It should continue until the mother and her baby agree it’s enough.
In this article, the benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and her child are highlighted. So read to the end to learn how it can positively impact your and your baby’s health and well-being. Let’s explore.
Breastfeeding: Benefits for the Baby
These amazing benefits show that it’s highly recommended to breastfeed your baby for as long as it takes to realize the best results.
1. Provides the Best Nutrition
Healthcare professionals will advise you to exclusively feed your baby breast milk for the first six months. The AAP emphasizes that a baby should be breastfed even after solid foods are introduced to their menu.
Moreover, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), you can begin to breastfeed an hour after giving birth and continue until your baby reaches two years of age for maximum benefits.
Breast milk comprises everything the baby needs for its first six months. And much more—the milk components are in the right proportion. These components change according to the baby’s needs, notably during the first month following birth.
A few days after giving birth, the mother’s breasts produce colostrum, called the first breast milk. It’s also referred to as the baby’s super meal. Why?
Colostrum is the best your newborn can have at a tender age. Packed with the essential nutrients in the right proportion, it’s neither incomparable nor replaceable by any other. It’s characterized by a thick, yellowish fluid that contains less sugar but is protein-rich.
A newborn baby needs colostrum to aid in developing their digestive system. Their appetite increases after a few days, necessitating the mother’s breasts to begin producing milk in higher quantities to keep up with the baby’s demand for it.
The only ingredient the mother’s milk may lack is vitamin D; however, it can be given to the baby dropwise. Vitamin D can also be obtained from natural sunlight.
2. Affords the Essential Antibodies
The infant age group is highly vulnerable to attacks from bacteria and viruses. This calls for a need for antibodies. This makes breastmilk crucial since it contains antibodies to fight against diseases, safeguarding your newborn’s health.
Large quantities of immunoglobulin A (IgA) and other antibodies. The science behind this is that when a lactating mother is exposed to bacteria or viruses, their bodies naturally produce antibodies that go directly to their milk.
Through breast milk, the baby receives these antibodies, strengthening their immunity. IgA forms a protective layer in the baby’s throat and digestive system.
Due to this, studies reveal that babies who are formula-fed, that is, not breastfed, are highly susceptible to health complications, including infection, diarrhea, and pneumonia.
3. Lowers the Risk of Diseases
If your baby is exclusively breastfed, their risk of contracting diseases and illnesses is greatly reduced. The diseases covered are the following:
- Chronic and severe colds.
- Allergies such as eczema, asthma, and atopic dermatitis.
- Respiratory and throat infections, middle-ear infections, and sinus infections occur during, and even beyond, infancy.
- Intestinal tissue and gut infections. Also necrotizing enterocolitis, especially in preterm babies.
- Bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
- Diabetes and childhood leukemia. The chances of developing type 1 and type 2 diabetes are greatly minimized.
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
4. Maintains a Healthy Weight
If you want your baby to maintain a healthy weight gain without becoming obese, then exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and even beyond is the answer.
This is made possible since newborns, when they breastfeed, develop beneficial bacteria in their gut tracts, which affect fat storage and fight obesity. Further, there’s a high production of the leptin hormone, which regulates fat storage and appetite.
With a healthy gut system, your newborn can control their milk intake. Their feeding session will only end when their hunger dies.
5. Produces Smarter Kids
Studies reveal that breastfed babies exhibit higher brain development than formula-fed babies. The rationale is the eye contact, touch, physical intimacy, and nutrients obtained from breast milk.
Moreover, breastfed babies are more intelligent, with reduced chances of developing behavioral problems and learning difficulties in their growing years. These effects are more pronounced in preterm babies, who experience development-related issues.
Indeed, breastfeeding shows remarkable benefits in long-term outcomes related to your baby’s overall brain development.
Breastfeeding: Benefits for the Mother
Mothers also benefit in several ways by exclusively or otherwise breastfeeding their babies. The following are some of the top benefits:
1. Results in Weight Loss
Though it’s still scientifically debatable, studies show that, over time, it helps you lose weight. Some women gain significant weight, while others end up cutting calories.
In lactation, more calories are burned, and the effect is noticeable during the first three months in some women. Although this can also happen to non-lactating women, the difference can hardly be noticed.
2. Helps in Uterine Contraction
Women experience uterine enlargement that almost fills their abdominal space during pregnancy. After childbirth, the uterus undergoes involution, contracting to regain its normal size. There’s increased production of the hormone oxytocin during pregnancy.
Oxytocin is secreted in large volumes during and after childbirth and onward during the lactation period. It aids childbirth labor to reduce bleeding, thus helping in baby delivery, and fosters a bond between the mother and her baby.
After delivery and when the mother breastfeeds, oxytocin reduces bleeding and facilitates uterine contractions. Studies have shown that lactating mothers lose less blood after delivery and experience faster uterine involution.
3. Less Likely to Experience Depression
Most women develop postpartum depression (PPD), but lactating mothers are less likely to experience it. Also, PPD is common for those who wean their babies earlier than the recommended six months, as well as those who didn’t breastfeed completely.
On the other hand, women experiencing PPD are likely to encounter complications and may not breastfeed for a longer time. It’s recommended to consult your doctor early if you notice any symptoms of postpartum depression.
4. Reduced Risk of Contracting Diseases
Breastfeeding boosts your protection against several diseases, including cancer. In particular, the length of time a mother breastfeeds her baby is directly correlated with a reduced risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer.
Other diseases that help protect mothers include high blood pressure, high blood fat, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other gynecological issues.
5. Natural Contraception
Women who breastfeed for a longer time, even after the required six months, are likely to experience a cessation of menstruation and ovulation. This may be viewed as a way of spacing pregnancies—a natural way of contraception.
Also, this allows the mother to devote enough time to her newborn without worrying much about getting pregnant again.
6. Saves Money and Time
Breastfeeding allows you to spend time with your baby and saves you money that would have been spent on doctor’s visits and buying formula. You don’t have to spend money on the baby’s diet since you freely give breast milk.
You will not be required to record how much milk is adequate for the baby. And you won’t frequently find yourself cleaning, warming, and sterilizing bottles, even at night. You avoid all these daily routines of time-consuming baby household chores.
The Challenges in Breastfeeding
Despite the amazing benefits, there’s always a downside to everything in life, including breastfeeding. Here, we explore some challenges you will likely experience.
- There’s discomfort during feeding sessions, especially during the first few days after the delivery. This may be temporary and will subside after a few days or a week. But if it’s persistent and unbearable, consult your doctor.
- Although you would notice a healthy weight gain, determining the exact quantity of milk your baby consumes is challenging.
On the other hand, formula feeding likely results in either obesity or significant weight loss, accompanied by related complications.
- Newborn babies breastfeed frequently. This means you also have to be around for their feeding. This setup becomes challenging for working women. This challenge can be overcome by pumping and storing breastmilk for later use.
- You need to closely look into your medication, alcohol, and caffeine intake regularly. Certain substances you consume aren’t completely digested and may instead reach the infant through your breast milk.
That’s why paying attention to your diet during lactation is important since it also affects your baby’s health. Indeed, breastfeeding affords numerous health benefits for the mother and her newborn. But on the downside, it’s not spared from challenges.
However, if breastfeeding seems overwhelming, be persistent and call your doctor to help resolve these difficulties. Bear in mind, though, that often, the challenges are only short-lived.
Give Your Baby the Best Food—Nothing Compares to Breastmilk
With advancements in technology and medical research, various methods of feeding newborns are being rapidly developed. Though these are worthwhile endeavors, nothing compares to the wonders of breastfeeding. Breast milk is still the best.
Breastfeeding affords numerous benefits for both the mother and her baby. The benefits are multi-faceted, be they health- or economic-wise.
Nevertheless, breast milk is still the best food you can give your newborn for six months or more. The baby’s health comes first, and your breast milk ensures this.
However, despite all the benefits, breastfeeding isn’t without challenges. Though most are short-lived, ensure they don’t affect your well-being or that of your baby. Reach out to Omega Pediatrics if health-related complications arise.
