Breastfeeding is the most natural way of feeding your baby. It fully covers its nutritional needs and creates unique conditions for physical development. It also enables the creation of an extraordinary and strong bond between mother and child in its first months of life. In addition, it is an activity by which the mother can significantly influence the child’s health – today and the future.
Benefits for the mother
- acceleration of convalescence in the postpartum period. Oxytocin is secreted during feeding, which reduces the risk of postpartum haemorrhage and anemia due to iron deficiency (anemia);
- help in recovering a pre-pregnancy figure. In combination with a rational diet, breastfeeding helps to regain the given figure, because the process of producing milk absorbs calories;
- protection against diseases. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in the nursing mother, and protects it from developing osteoporosis in the elderly;
- improvement of the mother’s mood. Regular feeding increases the production of prolactin – a hormone that affects the good mood of a nursing woman who becomes gentle, more patient and more resistant to the hardships of motherhood;
- lowering the likelihood of re-pregnancy. The hormone prolactin also has an inhibiting effect on ovarian function, thus reducing the chance of re-pregnancy;
- convenience and economic benefits. Breast meal is perfectly balanced, has the right temperature, and most importantly it is sterile (free from bacteria) and available at any time of day or night;
Benefits for the child
- supporting the body’s resistance. Female milk contains antibodies against viruses and bacteria, therefore a breastfed child has greater resistance to disease, and vaccinations work on their body effective;
- reducing the risk of diseases. Research shows that breastfed babies are less likely to have gastrointestinal infections, lower respiratory tract infections, acute and recurrent otitis media or urinary tract infections;
- health protection for a lifetime. Breastfed children later in life are better protected against acute infections, overweight, obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes, ischemic heart disease or inflammatory bowel diseases, less often cancer and better psychomotor development;
- lowering the risk of allergy. In the composition of human milk, we do not find those allergens that occur in cow’s milk, therefore breastfeeding prevents the early development of allergies;
- proper oral development. Breastfed babies are less likely to have speech defects, because feeding supports the development of cheekbones and bite;
- shortening the duration of postpartum jaundice. In a breast-fed child, the symptoms of postpartum jaundice disappear sooner;
- security, emotional and intellectual development. Everyday eye contact and direct touch during feeding gives the child a sense of security and protects against stress. In addition, it was found that breastfed babies are more independent, achieve a higher IQ, start talking faster, learn better;
Remember, breastfeeding is not only saving time and money, but above all a portion of health and love for the mother and her child. Breastfeeding is aimed at satisfying not only physical hunger, but also the need for closeness, serves to strengthen the bond between mother and child and awakens maternal instinct.
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