Breast feeding is the only natural way of providing food to your baby. It is however, so surprising that most mothers would up for formula feeds. Why is this? Is it because most women do not understand the benefits of breast feeding? Well let me share some benefits with you to try and convince more mothers to actually breast feed their babies.
For some mothers breast feeding is not an option either due to health reasons or cosmetic reasons or just by choice. But, whatever your choice is, the option to breast feed for healthy mothers should be paramount and seen as a joy and precious experience as so many cannot afford the pleasure.
Benefits of Breast feeding your baby:
The skin to skin physical closeness and eye contact experienced during breast feeding creates an important bond between mother and baby giving them both a sense of comfort, satisfaction and also a sense of security to the baby.
Breast milk is provided in a form more easily digested than any other formula milk. The colostrum produced at birth until day three assist to develop the digestive tract in preparation for the full hind milk which follows. It contains the right balance of nutrition necessary for growth and development of the baby as it contains a right mix of vitamins, fats and proteins.
Breast milk contains antibodies (immunoglobulin) essential in building the immune defence system of the baby to fight off infections such as bacterial and viral infections. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of developing allergies and eczema as well as asthma. Along with that, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer respiratory illnesses, ear infections and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.
Breast fed babies tend to gain healthy, solid weight. This weigh is gained gradually, preventing them from becoming overweight and developing diseases associated with obesity (eg.) Juvenile diabetes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and certain cancers. Breast feeding reduces the risk of malnutrition and milk contamination due to tainted water or over diluted formula. With breast feeding strictly for the first six months the baby should be nursed without the interference of water, sugar, juices or solid foods.
Research has also shown a decrease in the probability of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) with breast fed babies.
Breast feeding has also been linked to higher IQ’s scores in some studies in later child-hood.
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of infants developing dental cavities unless they were given certain antibiotics at birth.
Breastfeeding significantly prevent children from developing psychological, behavioural and learning problems as they grow older. Studies also indicate that cognitive development is increased among children whose mothers choose to breastfeed.
Research has also shown that breastfed babies become more mature, assertive and secure with themselves as they develop.
As I mentioned before breast feeding has so many wonderful and amazing benefits to the baby however, the choice is still left up to the mother. What is your choice today?
Author: Charlene Chablal-de Gourville BSN, RN, AScn Environmental Health.
Adv Dip Holistic Nutrition (2015 candidate)
Produced by: Neoteric Natural Health Consultants 2015
