The Benefits of Breastfeeding and General Information on Breast Feeding

Womens Health > The Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the best feeding you can offer your newborn. Breast milk is a perfect and complete food that is utterly suitable to nourish babies and protect them from diseases. By breastfeeding your baby, you are

The medical community shares the advantages of breastfeeding for babies frequently. What often goes unmentioned by these professionals, however, is the benefit of breastfeeding to the moms. The benefit to baby is indeed substantial – a better immune system, fewer sickness and allergies, an IQ boost. Mom, though, may need her pampering in the post-partum period as well, and breastfeeding can offer some comforts.

Many healthcare providers, especially those providers who are interested in treating patients in a holistic setting, report that breastfeeding moms often feel relaxed and more comfortable with the motherhood experience than their bottle-feeding counterparts. This psychological benefit could come from a number of sources. Breastfeeding may permit women in Western societies to get in touch with their pre-industrial counterparts, focusing on the necessity of the body instead of its aesthetics. Breastfeeding women can spend quiet time with their babies without the interference of the world, and this time alone may permit a new mom to feel more comfortable with her little one and the post-partum body.

Psychological gains for breastfeeding moms also could rise from the lack of stress associated with bottle-feeding. Mom can sleep close to her baby and feed him or her on demand – or on schedule – during the night instead of needing to interrupt sleep for long periods to make a bottle for an already-fussy infant. Mom also can run errands or visit friends without lugging bottles, warmers, formula, and then needing to mix and warm it to give to the baby.

Mother-baby bonding is another psychological benefit to breastfeeding. Many researchers argue that findings on bonding are not conclusive, and certainly bottle-feeding moms can form strong attachments to their children. Still, a recent University of Kentucky study released preliminary findings suggesting that moms who breastfeed are able to form a unique tie with their children.

This tie has benefits to the children and is considered a possible reason for the increased IQ for babies who breastfed. For moms, this bonding time could contribute to lower rates of post-partum depression although those findings are preliminary as well. The tie formed during breastfeeding sessions, some examiners contend, could contribute to the lower rate of child abuse and abandonment among breastfeeding families as mothers may develop a stronger attachment to their children. Psychologically, then, breastfeeding should be a happy and helpful experience for mom and baby.

Breastfeeding perks up the overall health of your baby. Here is how:

Breast milk contains all the essential nutrients and in just right amounts that your newborn's undeveloped digestive system can digest easily.
Breastfeeding confers your baby an ability to fight infections. Breast milk contains the antibodies that can destroy disease-causing organisms and protect your baby from infections. Furthermore, breastfeeding also cuts back the use of bottles, nipples and water for formula preparation and hence infections due to them.
The digestive tract of breastfed baby is much superior to formula fed baby and has large amounts of Lactobacillus bifidus, a friendly bacteria, which prevents the growth of harmful organisms.
The growth and development of breastfed babies is ideal; they generally remain leaner but are strong, and their brain development is much better to babies fed on formula.

Due to numerous benefits of breastfeeding, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends feeding the babies solely on breast milk during the first 4-6 months. Subsequently, introducing solid foods while continuing to breastfeed until the baby is 2, or for as long as

Breastfeeding is not just beneficial to babies, but to moms as well. By feeding your baby on breast milk, you will burn extra calories and get back to shape faster. Breastfeeding will also help you reduce the uterus to its original

As such, there is no reason to not to breastfeed your baby. However, in certain conditions breastfeeding may not be safe. If you are HIV positive or are on chemotherapy, taking medicines like ergotamine, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, bromocriptine, doxorubicin etc., you should avoid nursing your baby.