As a new mom, taking care of your baby might have become both an essential and a main part of your day since your baby means the world to you! As the little one should be growing healthily you might be feeding the baby with proper nutrition.
Did you know that breastfeeding gives multiple benefits to your baby to grow as you wish for and benefits for the mom as well? This will help you to know more.
What does breast milk contain?
Breast milk is the main source of nutrition for babies since it contains a variety of minerals and vitamins, fat, protein, and carbs. Whilst breast milk provides the perfect amount of nourishment for the baby to grow. It helps to safeguard against infections and illness as well.
Breast Milk has two types:
- Colostrum – Colostrum is the first milk that your breasts make after giving birth to your child. It looks dense and sticky as it contains large amounts of protein and white blood cells. Colostrum is considered as a natural protective substance for the baby to shield your child from illnesses and other infections once she leaves the security of your womb.
- Full milk – The infant gets full milk after three to four days of the delivery and this includes higher levels of sugar than colostrum. This supports the rapid development of the baby as it has a lot more calories.
Benefits for the mother
- Helps you to lose your weight
As a common condition during pregnancy, most women are gaining weight due to significant changes in the body. After giving birth, you are intended to lose your weight as breastfeeding burns more calories. This can be different from one to another. However, most likely you will be able to experience this change three months after the delivery.
- Lowers the risk of depression
There’s a high tendency of having postpartum depression after giving birth as you deal with a wide range of emotions. You could experience happiness, fear, or even sadness. You might be suffering from postpartum depression if your depressive symptoms intensify and begin to affect your daily life; breastfeeding helps to lessen the symptoms of depression and keep your mental health healthy.
- Develops the bond between baby and mom
While nursing the baby, the mother shares her love, affection, and care with the baby and both of them embrace each other which fosters close interaction between mom and baby. It also has a psychological impact as breastfeeding brings you and your infant closer together and is incredibly comfortable.
- Lowers the possibility of ovarian cancer
Extended breastfeeding helps to prevent ovarian cancer as it postpones the process of ovulation. Increased cell mutation can result in excessive ovulation, but this can be managed by breastfeeding.
- Breastfeeding is cost-effective
Raising a baby is not an easy task as there you can expect thousands of expenses. Breastfeeding can lower the costs that you have to spend on other alternatives hence, breastfeeding is inexpensive.
Benefits for the baby
- Encourages a healthy weight
If a baby is fed breast milk for more than four months, it is likely to promote a healthy weight and would stay without getting obese. Normally, breastfed babies have higher levels of leptin in their bodies compared to other newborns who are fed by formula. Leptin is important to control hunger and fat accumulation.
- Reduces the risk of infections
Babies who are breastfed may experience less severe colds, ear and throat infections, and even allergies. Breastmilk provides enough nutrition to develop the immune system to keep babies healthy.
- Makes babies smarter
The Public Health Agency of Canada states that breast milk may help infants to improve their intelligence and performance levels. The majority of infants who are fed with breast milk are less likely to experience negative behaviors and they are capable of taking challenges as they age.
- Lowers the risk of SIDS
Babies who are nursed or given extended breast milk have a decreased risk of developing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. This condition occurs when the infant’s immunity system is not strong enough. Breast Milk contains a lot of antibodies to defeat the infections which can contribute to SIDS.
- Prevents ear infections
Ear infections can exist for the long term and can lower the hearing ability of the baby.
A few drops of breast milk can be put in your baby’s infected area of the ear to reduce the discomfort.
We are here to help all the mamas out there regarding your concerns about breastfeeding.