Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mother & Baby

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Benefits for Baby

There are numerous benefits of breastfeeding your baby. They are as follows:

Breast milk contains antibodies that keep ailments such as otitis media, respiratory disorders, diarrhea and allergies at bay.

Breast fed babies rarely suffer from bowel problems such as constipation because breast milk is highly digestible.

The orthodontic condition and dental health of breast fed babies is better than their bottle fed counterparts owing to the unique sucking action that is part of breastfeeding.

Research suggests that the IQ of breast fed babies tends to be approximately 8 points higher and they are less likely to develop diabetes, cholesterol and asthma as adults.

The bonding between the infant and his/her mother is strengthened through breastfeeding

Benefits for Mother

There are many health benefits of breastfeeding for mother. They include the following:

Breastfeeding keeps post-partum depression at bay and cements the emotional bond between mother and baby.

It reduces the mother’s susceptibility of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer as well as osteoporosis.

It helps the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and also aids weight loss.

Breastfeeding aids child spacing as ovulation is delayed due to it. The longer the mother breastfeeds, the bigger the age gap between her children.

Breastfeeding provides a sense of satisfaction for the mother as she is the only one who can meet the basic needs of her infant in terms of nourishment.

Breastfeeding is cost effective; formula milk costs approximately $1200 a year.

References

American Academy of Pediatrics. New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding. Meek JY, ed. New York, NY: Bantam Books; 2002
Kramer MS, Chalmers B, Hodnett ED, et al. Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT): a randomized trial in the Republic of Belarus. JAMA. 2001;285 :413 –420