How Breastfeeding Benefits You and Your Baby?

Breastfeeding is good for child’s health as well as for woman’s health also. It is beginning of a special relationship between you and your baby. Even if you breastfeed for just a few days, your baby will receive invaluable protection from infection.

Breastfeed shows long term results, so the longer you breastfeed, better for you and your baby. It offers innumerable benefits to the mother and the child.

Breastfeed benefits for the baby

• Protects your baby from a long list of illnesses- Breastfed babies are less prone to stomach viruses, lower respiratory illnesses, ear infections and meningitis. Breastfeeding reduces a child's risk of developing certain childhood cancers and protects the body against invasive germs. Breastfeeding also helps the child to avoid diseases such as high blood pressure, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol which can develop in later ages.

• Protect your baby from developing allergies- Babies who are breastfed show more resistance to inflammation, allergies and other eventual health issues. They are less likely to develop any kind of allergy.

• Boost your child's intelligence- Prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding boosts your child’s intelligence. Preterm infants with extremely low birth weight who received breast milk shortly after birth have improved mental development. Emotional bonding that develops during breast feeding contributes to some of the brainpower benefits.

• Protect your child from obesity- Breastfed babies have more leptin in their system, a hormone that plays a role in regulating appetite and fat. Breastfeeding reduces a child's risk of becoming overweight as a teen or adult.

• Lowers your baby’s risk of SIDS- Breastfeeding either exclusively or partially lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Breastfeed benefits for you

• Reduce your stress level and your risk of postpartum depression- Most of the women feel relaxed while breastfeeding. Nursing triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin that promotes nurturing and relaxation and also helps in lowering blood pressure. It also helps to fight depression.

• Reduce your risk of some types of cancer- The longer a woman breastfeeds, more she is protected against breast and ovarian cancer. Breastfeeding suppresses estrogen production, thus reduces the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Breastfeeding is a natural phenomenon and is very important for the health of baby and the mother. Breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect your baby from illness. While breastfeeding a woman gets mental relief and also develops a strong bond with her child.

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