Every woman’s journey to motherhood is different, but one of the first decisions a new mother makes is based on breastfeeding.Lets take a look at some benefits of breastfeeding.
Breast milk is the best food to help your baby to grow and develop, and it is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired. Breastfeeding is an experience that can bring a mother and child closer to one another, also babies that are well breastfed are stronger, healthier and grow faster.
Mamalette these are some of the benefits of breastfeeding:
1. A Healthy Baby
Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and helps in the development of baby’s immune system. Breastfeeding therefore protects your baby.
2. Bonding Between Mother And Baby
During breastfeeding there is skin to skin contact which helps many nursing mothers bond with their babies. This skin-to-skin contact can enhance the emotional connection between a mother and her baby.
3. Satisfies Baby’s Emotional Needs
Babies need to be held. It is comforting for infants to be held close and cuddled while they are being breastfeeding. Breastfeeding your baby helps him or her develop emotional stability.
4. Nutrients And Protection
Naturally, breast milk contains many of the vitamins and minerals that a newborn requires except Vitamin D, so all breastfed babies should begin receiving vitamin D supplements during the first 2 months and continuing until the baby is a year old.
5. Breastfeeding Enhances Vaccine Effectiveness
Infants who are breastfed showed a great serum and secretory responses to peroral and parenteral vaccines than infants who are formula-fed. So after vaccination, it is advised you breast feed your baby.
6. Helps Pass Meconium
When babies are born, they are born with a sticky tar-like substance called meconium in their intestines. The first milk or colostrum helps move this substance through the infant’s body.
7. Free Of Charge
Breastfeeding saves you money! With breastfeeding you don’t have to spend a kobo and unless you’re pumping breast milk and giving it to your baby, there’s no need for bottles, nipples, and other supplies that can cost you money.
8. Beneficial For Mom
Helps mom lose baby weight after birth, prevent post-partum hemorrhage, and if you are breastfeeding your baby exclusively it serves as a natural contraceptive.
9. Sharp Brain
Some studies suggest that children who were exclusively breastfed have slightly higher IQs than children who were formula fed. There is strong evidence that children who were breastfed score higher on IQ tests, as well as on teacher ratings of their academic performance.
10. Easy To Digest
Infants can easily digest human milk more easily than the milk of other animals, this may be because human milk contains an enzyme that aids digestion.
