BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

Breastfeeding is the feeding of newborn babies and young children with milk from
the mother's breast. When the baby does not have the ability to breastfeed, the
mother may pump their breast in order to still get the milk and can be used to feed
the baby. According to studies in order to achieve optimum health, infants should be
breastfed exclusively for six months and continued up to 2 years of age.
Breastfeeding has a lot of benefits to both the baby and the mother, which infant
formula cannot give to the infant. According to American Academy of
Pediatrics(AAP), breastmilk is the best nutrition for infants.
These are some of the benefits of breastfeeding for babies:
1. BREASTMILK CONTAINS IMPORTANT ANTIBODIES
- A newborn's immune systems are still not strong as adults, but with
breastfeeding, it will help your immune system fight off against viruses and bacteria
because of the antibodies that is secreted into the breastmilk and passed to the baby
during feeding. When the mother is exposed to viruses and bacteria, her body starts
producing antibodies and these antibodies especially immunoglobulin A, can help
fight or prevent illnesses in your baby.

2. BREASTFEEDING MAY REDUCE DISEASE RISK

- Breastfeeding may reduce your baby's risk of infections and many diseases
and illnesses, including middle ear infections, colds, respiratory tract infections,
allergic diseases, urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis and still many more. The
protective effects of breastfeeding seem to last throughout childhood and even
adulthood. In addition to that, research states that formula-fed babies three times
more likely to suffer from ear infections than breastfed babies, and up to five times
more likely to suffer from pneumonia and lower respiratory-tract infections.
3. BREASTFEEDING CAN MAKE CHILDREN SMARTER
- According to studies, there may be a difference in brain development between
formula-fed and breasfed babies. The research indicates that breastfed babies have
higher intelligence score. Breastfeeding may affect your baby's cognitive
development and reduce the risk of learning process.
4. CAUSES LESS STOMACH ACHE, DIARRHEA AND CONSTIPATION
- This is because the breastmilk is so easy for the baby's body to breakdown
and it is easily digested and readily available.
5. COULD HELP PREVENT OBESITY
- Research shows that breastfed babies have lower risk to be obese later in life,
because breastfed babies seem to be better able to regulate their food intake.
BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS FOR THE MOTHER:
Breastfeeding benefits is not just for your baby. Study indicates that
breastfeeding also helps improve the mother's health, as well as their children.

• LOWERS THE RISK OF BREAST AND OVARIAN CANCER

- According to research, there is a strong evidence that breastfeeding reduced
the mother's breast cancer risk. Most women who breastfeed experience hormonal
changes during lactation. This reduces a woman's lifetime exposure to hormones like
estrogen, which can promote breast cancer cell growth, plus breastfeeding also
lowers the risk of having ovarian cancer by preventing ovulation.
• HELPS YOU LOSE PREGNANCY WEIGHT
- Milk production burns 300 to 500 calories a day, mothers who breastfeed tend
to have an easier time losing pregnancy weight in a healthy way.
• STRENGHTENS THE BOND WITH YOUR BABY
- Breastfeeding is something special between the baby and the mother.
Breastfeeding is reassuring to a newborn by skin-to-skin contact and promotes
powerful source of comfort for a mother and her infant while helping to facilitate their
bonding and connection.