Breastfeeding is one the most important things that happen after birth for both the mother and the baby. It is beneficial for the mummy’s physical and emotional being. On the other hand, it allows the baby to grow healthy from the first day.
We will help you to understand breastfeeding and its benefits in this article at Supermom!
Benefits of breastfeeding
To the baby
It contains all the essential vitamins, hormones, minerals, and nutrients- breast milk is highly nutritious because it is fully packed with all the nutrients your baby needs to grow healthy.
Breast milk is easily digestible- when a baby is born, their digestive system is very delicate and requires easily digestible food. Breast milk is easy to break down into nutrients. Therefore, your baby will not face stomach upset due to undigested materials in their system.
Breast milk contains antibodies-the mummy’s mature immune system makes antibodies that help them and their babies fight disease. The antibodies are transferred to the baby’s body through breast milk.
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity and diabetes in adulthood- the breast milk from mummies contains easily absorbed, digested, and healthy nutrients and enzymes. This helps the baby grow healthy when young and be free from obesity and diabetes when they grow old.
Breast milk helps babies build a more robust immune system- since breast milk has all the crucial nutrients that your baby needs to grow healthy, they develop a strong immune system. As a result, it lowers infant mortality and overall illness risks and leads to less hospitalization.
To the mother
Early suckling helps with womb contraction- when the baby latch on the mummy’s breast, it releases hormones such as the oxytocin that helps contract your uterus to the pre-pregnancy size. As a result, mummies can get back to their shape faster after delivery.
Breastfeeding is also a form of natural family planning- it delays the return of your menstrual cycle. Hence, you don’t have to engage in other forms of family planning in your early breastfeeding stage.
Also, breastfeeding burns calories for weight loss- mummies desire to lose the weight they gain during their pregnancy as soon as they deliver their babies. Breastfeeding is one of the ways that can help you burn those calories and get back to your normal weight. It burns about 500 extra calories in a day to build and maintain the milk supply.
It reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer- during the lactation period, mummies experience hormonal changes in their body that leads to delayed menstrual periods. This reduces their risk of exposure to hormones such as estrogen that promote breast cancer cell growth.
Also, breastfeeding helps reduce postpartum stress and develop a positive mood. Through breastfeeding, mummies produce soothing hormones such as oxytocin and prolactin, promoting stress reduction and creating a positive vibe in the nursing mummy.
To the mother and the baby
Breastfeeding helps create a physical and emotional bond- when mummies are breastfeeding their babies, they get time to interact. Besides, the skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the baby creates a strong connection between them. As a result, the baby feels loved, which molds them in their adult life. This reduces social and behavioral problems in both children and adults.
It makes the lactating period easy and enjoyable- breastfed babies cry less compared to non-breastfed babies. As a result, breastfeeding makes the baby remain calm and enjoy their sleeping time. On the other hand, mummies get peace of mind, enhancing their body, mind, and spiritual wellbeing.
Finally, breastfeeding helps mummies to learn their babies easily and faster. Mummy can tell when the baby is okay and when there is an issue through breastfeeding. As a result, it becomes easier to notice any disability that the baby may be born with or any other sickness. Hence, the problem is solved early enough to reduce infant mortality or disability risks.
