Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breast feeding benefits are two-way. It benefits both mother and child equally. As a mother you can always be proud of having given your baby the very best food for her. Your baby also grows up strong and healthy. So, breast feeding is more of a choice of health rather than a choice of lifestyle. Alternative sources of food for your baby like formula are marketed by vendors but there is no real substitute for breast milk.

In addition to the indisputable health benefits (even the formula food vendors agree on this), breast feeding provides a great opportunity for the mother and baby to develop a close and intimate bond that lasts for a lifetime.

Breastfeeding Benefits for Baby

• Breast milk changes its composition according to the nutritional requirements of the baby.
• Breast feeding enhances the health of the breast feeding baby and reduces chances of illnesses such as diarrhea, gas problems, respiratory infections etc. The antibodies in breast milk provide immunity to the baby against diseases.
• Breast milk has more nutrients than any other source of milk. It is more digestible than formula and contains nutrients in the right proportion needed by babies.
• Lesser chances of the baby throwing up breast milk. So, her body retains the essential nutrients that she needs.
• Breast milk is not contaminated provided the mother is not suffering from any illness.
• Babies are never allergic to breast milk unless they are sensitive to something that the breast feeding mother has had in her food. Exclusive breastfeeding for 6 month also decreases the chances of a baby becoming allergic to foods later on.
• Studies have shown that the IQ of an exclusively breast fed baby is higher by as much as 7 points.
• The cholesterol levels in a breast feeding baby is likely to decrease as she grows up.
• Breast feeding helps the baby to maintain her body temperature.
• Breast feeding helps in arresting nappy rash in the initial stages till the baby begins to take solid food.
• Breast feeding babies have lower rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Breastfeeding Benefits for Mother

• Breast milk is always readily available and convenient. You do not have to do any washing and sterilising of feeding bottles, and there is no mixing process to be done.
• Breast feeding has the benefit of shrinking the uterus back to its original pre-pregnancy size more quickly.
• Breast feeding assists you in shedding off that extra weight you gained during pregnancy.
• A baby feeding mother is prone to lesser risk of osteoporosis.
• The mother of a nursing baby is less likely to suffer from breast and ovarian cancers.
• Breastfeeding is far more economical than formula feeding.