Breastfeeding and Its Benefits

It's never too late if you start thinking about how you're going to breastfeed your baby. You don't have to make up your mind until your little one is born, but it's vital to know how Breastfeeding has health benefits for both babies and mothers. Breast milk is the food naturally aimed to meet the demands of newborn babies. It is an excellent source of all necessary nutrients in the right amounts and is easily digestible. Beyond the nutritional benefits, here's a great bonus: Breast milk also helps build and support your baby's immune system, growth, and development. It can also help protect the new mom against certain illnesses and diseases. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding until 26 weeks or longer because the benefits continue that long. Also, starting as early as one hour after birth is really good to reap huge benefits.

• Breast milk is always a great source of nutrition for babies. As the baby grows, the mother's milk composition will also change to fulfil the baby's nutritional needs in the proper proportions.

• Breastfeeding can keep short and long-term diseases at bay. Breastfeeding promotes healthy weight gain and helps prevent childhood obesity, type 1 diabetes, asthma, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

• Breastfed babies also self-regulate their milk intake. They're better at eating until they've satisfied their hunger, which helps them develop healthy eating patterns.

• It can reduce the mother's risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes.

• Breastfeeding can help the mother burn more calories, and after three months of lactation, you will undoubtedly experience an increase in fat burning compared to non-lactating mothers. Though the difference isn't significant.

• During pregnancy, the uterus grows and expands rapidly, filling almost your entire abdomen space. Your body secretes large amounts of oxytocin during pregnancy to help deliver the baby and reduce bleeding. It can help you bond with your new little one. Oxytocin rises during Breastfeeding, and it encourages uterine contractions and reduces bleeding, allowing the uterus to return to its previous size.

• Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that can develop shortly after childbirth. Women who breastfeed regularly seem less likely to develop postpartum depression than mothers who wean early or do not breastfeed.

The benefits of Breastfeeding are enormous, and all doctors recommend it for everyone for as long as possible, excluding the medical conditions that prevent it. Breast milk contains antibodies and other elements that protect and nurture your baby from illness and chronic disease. It's the best gift that you can give your baby if you're able to.