Seeing double lines on pregnancy test strips, a woman has no idea how her life is going to change.
The journey from conception to childbirth is magical and is no less than a roller coaster ride. From changing your eating schedule to spending your days reading about the benefits of breastfeeding, it changes it all.
If you are a new mom, then you might fight yourself struggling to make the best choices for your baby. Breastfeeding is surely one such decision.
Let’s see what breastfeeding is and what are the potential benefits associated with it!
Table of Contents
Why Do Women Need to Breastfeed?
If you are having trouble making wise decisions regarding the nourishment of your child, here are all the reasons to breastfeed your child. Before we head to the benefits of breastfeeding here is all you need to know about breast milk nutrition.
Breast Milk – A Complete Nutritional Formula
Breast milk is the powerhouse of energy and contains all that is needed for optimum child growth. Nutritionally speaking, it contains many important nutrients, including
- Proteins
- Fats
- Carbs
- Vitamins and minerals
- Antibodies
- Hormones
- Enzymes
- Growth factors
All these components are responsible for the early development of children. These not only account for the nutritional requirements of children but also play a key role in the development of a healthy immune system in children.
Let’s get into the details and know more about the breastfeeding benefits that you need to know!
Potential Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding isn’t only beneficial for children but there are many benefits of breastfeeding for moms. These include:
1- Complete Nutrition
We get nutrition from the food we eat and the same goes for the babies.
When born, children require essential nutrients for their growth and development. Here breastmilk comes to rescue.
Breast milk, unlike formula milk, is capable of fulfilling the nutritional requirements of children at different phases of early growth. Mother milk, being lower in calories and rich in nutrients is the perfect food for your baby.
Keeping in view the nutritional information of breastmilk, it is clear that no formula milk can replace it.
2- Strengthens Immune System
A healthy immune system is required for proper growth and to keep infections at bay.
Babies get a part of this immunity from their mothers and this is made possible by the production of breast milk. Milk that is produced soon after childbirth, aka colostrum, is a rich source of antibodies. Antibodies produced inside the mother’s body make their way to the child’s body, enhancing his/her immune system.
3- Aids Digestive System
Next in the list of breastfeeding benefits, comes its role towards easy digestion.
Breast milk is easy to digest when compared to other formulas or cow milk. When you breastfeed your child, it provides enough nutrition to the baby without putting up a burden on the child’s digestive system.
The reason is pretty clear… Breast milk components are easily broken so a baby’s digestive system works pretty well.
4- Natural Weapon Against Diseases
Newborn infections and diseases are quite common!
What if I tell you that you can prevent these infections?
Yes, you heard it right. Consumption of breast milk protects children against diseases including respiratory or middle ear infections. Further, breast milk also helps to keep allergic directions, gut infections and colds at bay.
5- Healthy Body Weight
Bodyweight is one defined measure of good health.
A healthy body weight is as important for children as for adults. You can help your child have a good body weight by breastfeeding.
Why? Unlike formulated milk, it is low in calories. Further, it assures better digestive health. Further, the presence of good bacteria in your gut hinders the fat storage in the body keeping the baby’s weight in an ideal range.
6- Better Brain Function
Another benefit of breastmilk is that it makes your child smarter. Better brain health is linked with the rich nutrient supply through breast milk. Nutrients present in breastmilk are essential for brain development that let children grow physically as well as mentally.
7- Uterus Contraction
Breast milk offers numerous benefits for mothers as well.
Keeping in view the changes that happen to your body during pregnancy, a significant part of this change is uterus expansion. After you deliver the baby, the process of uterus shrinking begins and breastfeeding can help mothers in this regard.
Breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin in the body that helps with the process of uterus involution.
8- Post Pregnancy Weight Loss
After delivery weight loss is a real challenge for women. Among many things that can make it easier for you are breastfeeding. When your body is producing more and more milk, you will shed those extra pounds. This is because feeding your child lets you burn calories. Losing these calories over days will help you to shed those extra pounds and in this way, breastfeeding can help you lose weight.
Read more about post pregnancy weight loss.
9- Strengthen Mother-Baby Bond
This is for sure one of the most precious bonds in anyone’s life. You may find it surprising but breastfeeding your child is beneficial in this regard as well.
This helps you bond better with your child and that too soon after the birth. This bonding is another reason that there are lesser chances of you suffering from postpartum depression.
10- Reduced Disease Risk
Next in the list of benefits of breastfeeding for mothers comes its role towards better maternal health. When you breastfeed, this ultimately reduces your risk of suffering from ovarian and breast cancer.
Not only this, but breastfeeding also has an impact on the mother’s menstrual health. This is ultimately needed to prevent the immediate pregnancy that can take a toll on a mother’s health.
Had Enough of Breastmilk Benefits? Let’s Wrap Up!
Breast milk is nature’s way of nourishing children while offering benefits for maternal health as well. This is for sure, one of nature’s biggest blessings. This complete nutrition is something your baby needs at different growth phases and no formula milk can replace this nature’s gift. You can consult the best gynecologist in Karachi via Healthwire.pk if you are looking to make an informed decision regarding breastfeeding your child.
