The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby and Mothers

It is a well-accepted fact that breastfeeding is best for your baby, but why is it best? I have put together a list of the benefits for both baby and mother.

Benefits of breastfeeding:

• Breastmilk is a complete meal for your baby, no other food is required until around 6 months of age
• Breastfeeding promotes healthy growth and helps to prevent childhood obesity
• Contains omega-3 long-chain fatty acids DHA important for brain development
• Breastmilk is a living substance and is easily digested
• Breastmilk changes and adapts over time to suit the baby’s changing needs
• Less illness as breastmilk contains antibodies which protect your baby from infections such as ear, respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis.
• Lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
• Your baby’s digestive system is lined with all the correct good bacteria
• Less likely to develop allergies or type 1 diabetes
• Less likely to develop coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and childhood leukaemia
• Reduced dental decay
• Reduced risk of behaviour and learning problems
• Lower risk of heart disease as an adult
• Breastfeeding is important in the development of mouth and jaw as well as vision and speech
• Close bonding time with skin to skin contact, gives baby comfort and stimulates hormones beneficial to breastfeeding
• Once established it is quick and gets quicker over time
• Free and portable
• Environmentally sustainable
• No preparation of formula required

For mother:

• Mothers uterus contracts and reduces in size more quickly, less bleeding
• Mothers weight reduces as extra calories are used for making milk
• Mothers have lower rates of osteoporosis, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression
• Delays fertility for mother if exclusively breastfeeding
• Mother gets a chance to stop and rest while breastfeeding

And many more…

If you are unable to breastfeed, infant formula has all the nutrients that your baby requires for optimal growth. Unfortunately, infant formula is unable to completely mimic breast milk’s other benefits.

When you know the many benefits of breastfeeding, it may help when you come up against some of the common challenges. If you can get some early support from a lactation consultant this can make all the difference in successfully breastfeeding your baby.

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