By Tara Wadlow, FNP-BC, IBCLC
When you breastfeed, you give your baby a healthy start that lasts a lifetime. Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. All babies are born to breastfeed!
Here are just a few of the benefits for baby and mom:
BENEFITS FOR BABY
• Breast milk is the most complete nutrition for infants. A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein needed for a baby's development and growth. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than formula.
• Breast milk has agents (called antibodies) that help protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Babies who are breastfed for six months are less likely to have ear infections, diarrhea, or respiratory illnesses.
• Breastfed babies have lower rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the first year of life, and lower rates of diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, obesity, high cholesterol and asthma later in life.
BENEFITS FOR MOM
•Breastfeeding uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose weight after pregnancy. It also decreases any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.
• Breastfeeding delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. (You should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices.)
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.
• Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. There is no formula to buy or mix, and no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!
• A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.
• Breastfeeding gives a mother some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.
If you have questions about breastfeeding, email Tara.