Studies show that breastfeeding is extremely beneficial for both mother and baby. Breastfeeding is also important for establishing a close bond between mother and baby in the first place. We have compiled the following information about the benefits of breastfeeding.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Mother
From the moment you first breastfeed, a lasting and special bond begins to form between you and your baby. Skin-to-skin contact makes your baby feel comfortable and safe. You don’t have to pay for breast milk, it’s ready when you want it, at the ideal temperature, and you don’t have to sterilize anything or carry a bag full of things with you when you’re out and about. And for your health, the benefits of breastfeeding are indisputable.
Immediately after birth, the baby taking the mother’s breast triggers the release of the love hormone oxytocin, which signals the breast to secrete milk for the baby. Oxytocin also helps the uterus shrink and return to its pre-pregnancy size. For the mother, one of the benefits of mashing is that it can also delay the return of menstruation. This preserves iron in the body. However, although it is less likely to get pregnant during this period, it should not be relied on as a sure-fire method.
The benefits of breastfeeding from research:
- Reduced risk of ovarian and uterine cancer,
- Reduced risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer,
- By strengthening bones, it reduces the number of fractures and the risk of osteoporosis later in life,
- It is concluded that it reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes in the long term.
In addition, research on the benefits of breastfeeding shows that mothers have less postpartum anxiety and depression due to the increase in oxytocin levels, and have a milder postpartum period compared to mothers who cannot breastfeed. Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from respiratory tract infections, diarrhea and gastroenteritis, reducing the need to visit your doctor and the associated stress. The hormone prolactin, which is responsible for milk production, is also thought to have a calming effect on the mother.
Breastfeeding mothers can lose weight more easily than non-breastfeeding mothers. This is the most striking benefit of breastfeeding. Because breastfeeding is a calorie-consuming activity and helps you lose pregnancy weight by burning an average of 500 calories a day. A non-breastfeeding mother would have to run uphill for an hour to burn the same number of calories as a breastfeeding mother. In general, breastfeeding mothers lose weight faster and stay in shape more easily than non-breastfeeding mothers. Breastfeeding mothers have been observed to change their metabolism and regulate their blood sugar levels, resulting in efficient weight loss and stabilization of their good cholesterol. The reduced likelihood of heart problems in mothers who have breastfed their babies is also thought to be one of the benefits of breastfeeding.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby
Breast milk is the only food that is made specifically for your baby, cannot be replicated and only changes in composition as your baby grows to meet his or her needs. What’s more, the nutrients in breast milk are more easily absorbed by your baby’s body than in formula milk or formula, so your baby gets the maximum benefit from the nutrition they receive. You can be sure that your baby’s immune system is strengthened and protected from diseases with the antibodies transmitted to your baby with breast milk. Feeding your baby exclusively breast milk for the first six months as recommended has many short-term and long-term benefits. Therefore, feeding the baby naturally will also benefit him/her in later life.
As soon as your baby starts to suckle, it feels a sense of comfort and security. It is therefore important to breastfeed as early as possible. Colostrum, the first milk produced, helps the baby to eliminate meconium (substances digested in the womb) by producing its first poop. It coats the inner walls of the stomach and intestines, providing stronger protection against bacteria and viruses.
If you have a family history of diabetes or allergies, breastfeeding reduces the chances of your baby developing these conditions. In addition, breastfeeding also has the following benefits;
- Because the stool is softer, constipation is less likely and there are fewer cases of diarrhea,
- There are fewer problems with gas and vomiting after feeding,
- Urinary tract infections are less common,
- Ear infections are less common,
- Hospitalizations for gastroenteritis and respiratory infections are less common.
Breast milk contains substances vital for the development of the baby’s brain, retina and central nervous system, as well as growth factors and hormones.
Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby in the Long Term
Research shows that in breastfed babies;
- by age 7, you are less likely to have a chest infection,
- You are less likely to develop eczema and asthma,
- Lower risk of obesity and high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and tooth decay later in life,
- It shows more advanced intellectual development.
Benefits of Breastfeeding in Premature Babies
Breast milk is especially good for premature babies, as it strengthens the baby and helps protect it from infections. If your baby cannot breastfeed, you can express breast milk and colostrum and give it to your baby in other ways. If your baby is very small or unable to accept milk, you can freeze your expressed milk and use it later.