Breastfeeding Benefits

Posted by joever on June 26, 2009

The Benefits of Breastfeeding

During breastfeeding nutrients and antibodies pass to the baby while it helps to strengthen the maternal bond. Most people agree that, under normal circumstances, breastfeeding is best for your baby. It provides the perfect nutrients and has many known benefits:

-Superior nutrition
Breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development.

-Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. The protein that is present is more nutritious and digestible that the major protein component of cow’s milk. The mother’s fat is also more easily broken down. Infants also have an easier time absorbing the important micro nutrients in breast milk than those in cow’s milk. The proportion of protein in mother’s milk is lower than in cow’s milk, making it more digestible.

-Breastfeeding also helps a mother bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted

-Breast milk has agents called antibodies in it to help protect infants form bacteria and viruses and to help them in fighting off infection and disease. Breastfed babies are less subject to lower respiratory infections, ear infection, septicemia and urinary tract infections. virtually no baby is allergic to breast milk, while certain substances in cow’s milk can trigger allergic responses.

-Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile, never improperly prepared, contaminated or spoiled.

-Breastfeeding saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure and mix formula, and there no bottles to warm in the middle of the night.

-Nursing uses up extra calories making it easier to lose pounds gained from pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size more quickly and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.

-Breastfeeding may lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

-Nursed babies are healthier. The rates of constipation and diarrhea are lower in breast-fed children. Also, breastfeeding is less likely to cause overweight infants or obese children later in life.

-Breastfeeding in convenient for the mother. It requires no planning, packing or equipment. It is always available, and at just the right temperature.