10 Amazing Health Benefits Of Breastfeeding For Mother And Child

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The vast array of benefits that human breast milk provides, compared with formula feeds are not debatable. Human breast milk is the single best source of balanced ready-made nourishment for your baby. Unlike infant formula, which is mostly based on cow's milk, breast milk is easily digestible and contains all the essential nutrients needed for the baby's overall growth and development in the right proportions.

Apart from its nutritional value, not many people are aware that breast milk contains valuable natural antibiotics which protect the mucous lining of the airways and intestines, thereby safeguarding the breastfed baby from dreaded under-five killers like respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis. In addition, breastfeeding contains substances that enhance the mental development of the growing baby, given that up to 80% of brain development takes place in the first two years of life.

Interestingly, the practice of breastfeeding is as beneficial to the nursing mother as it is for her baby especially when breastfeeding is done exclusively in the first 6 months.

Highlighted below are some of the amazing benefits that both the nursing mother and her child stand to enjoy from breastfeeding.

Benefits for the Baby
1. Immunity from common childhood infections
A child that is exclusively breastfed for the first six months is not likely to suffer from pneumonia, common cold, ear infections and diarrhoea. This is because protective antibodies especially secretory IgA are transferred from the mother to her baby during breastfeeding. In addition, the problem of poor hygiene on the part of nursing mothers who fail to wash their hands thoroughly after toileting for instance or feed the baby with contaminated bottles is more likely with infant formula feeding than breastfeeding. This is why formula-fed babies often come down with avoidable lethal infections especially in the developing countries with low levels of hygiene.

2. Balanced diet
Breast milk is the best source of balanced nutrients for your growing baby. It contains the right proportions of proteins, carbohydrates, water, vitamins and minerals needed by the baby for healthy growth and development. Note that unlike what obtains in formula feeds, these nutrients are available in a form that can be readily digested and absorbed by the immature intestines of your baby.

3. Enhanced Brain Development
Numerous studies have established a strong link between breastfeeding and brain development such that breastfed babies have higher IQ scores than their counterparts. Furthermore, IQ scores are even higher in those babies who are breastfed for longer periods. This effect has been largely attributed to some brain-boosting long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (e.g taurine) found in breast milk.

4. Less risk of allergies
It was discovered that babies who were breastfed were less likely to suffer from allergic reactions later in life than formula-fed babies. Immune factors like secretory IgA found exclusively in breast milk prevent undigested proteins in milk from gaining access into the circulation through the gut. Such proteins are foreign to the body such that it's likely to mount an immune response against them, setting the stage for allergies later in life.

5. Less risk of Obesity
Several studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology revealed that breastfeeding significantly lessens a baby's risk of becoming obese or overweight later in life. First, human breast milk contains leptin, an appetite-regulating hormone which prevents obesity. Also, breast milk contains less insulin than infant formula. Insulin is known to promote fat production and accumulation that may lead to obesity later in life. In the same vein, breastfeeding can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by half.

Benefits for the Mother
1. Less risk of Cancer
Research has shown that breastfeeding mothers significantly reduce their risk of developing cancers of the breast, uterus and ovaries. This is probably linked to the high levels of the hormone prolactin in lactating mothers suppressing the levels of oestrogen (which has been implicated in cancers) throughout the lactation period. For instance the incidence of breast cancer was very low in those who breastfed their babies for at least one year.

2. Less risk of postpartum depression
According to the National Institutes of Health, women who did not breastfeed at all or those who stopped breastfeeding very early are more likely to experience depression. This is because breastfeeding stimulates the release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland in the brain, a hormone which enhances lactation and relaxation. Aside from this is the psychological satisfaction and pleasure the nursing mother derives from being able to produce such a perfect food for the nourishment of her own baby.

3. Less risk of postpartum bleeding
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. The incidence of this dreaded problem is significantly reduced in mothers who establish breastfeeding soon after delivery because of the release of oxytocin which helps to contract the uterus and seal off bleeding vessels after delivery. No wonder it's often recommended that mothers try to start breastfeeding their babies within the first 30 minutes of delivery.

4. Stronger bones
Mothers who breastfeed their babies are less likely to experience osteoporosis after menopause. This is possibly due to the efficient absorption of calcium by breastfeeding mothers and calcium is known to promote strong healthy bones.

5. Less risk of Obesity
Breastfeeding is a healthy way to burn calories and lose some weight thereby reducing your risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lactating mothers easily lose weight gained during pregnancy as breastfeeding has been shown to burn an average of 500 calories per day for mothers who indulge in exclusive breastfeeding.

Image Credit: welladjusted.co
 
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