If you're an expecting mother, you might be trying to decide between breastfeeding or formula feeding your baby.
In 2017, almost 85% of babies started out breastfeeding but that number dropped to 58% before the six-month mark. Many pediatricians recommend that infants be exclusively fed breast milk for six months and up to one year with other foods.
But why is breastfeeding recommended over formula feeding? You might be surprised to know that breastfeeding comes not only with a ton of benefits for your baby but also for you as a mother.
Keep reading to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby!
Breast Milk Contains Essential Nutrients for Newborns
One of the benefits of breastfeeding is that breast milk provides the nutrition that your baby needs. It also contains the nutrients in all of the correct proportions. The composition of breast milk adapts over time to suit your baby's needs.
In the first month, breast milk contains colostrum which is a fluid that is low in sugar, high in protein, and full of nourishment. It is also full of antibodies that help your baby's immune system, helps kill viruses, and act as a natural laxative for your baby.
Ensuring that your baby gets everything that they need might be more difficult with artificial milk.
Breast Milk Can Help Prevent Infections
Breastfeeding can be very beneficial in fighting and preventing infections. Studies show that babies who breastfeed have fewer incidences of certain infections.
If you're struggling to decide whether or not to breastfeed your baby, it might be important to consider that breast milk can help:
- Prevent mild or severe infections
- Strengthen your baby's immune system
- Reduce the risk of bacterial meningitis
- Lessen cases of fever, cold, and pneumonia
- Lower the risk of digestive, ear, and lung infections
- Prevent intestinal infection necrotizing enterocolitis after premature birth
- Lessen the overall symptoms of infections
- These are some of breast milk's benefits for infants. As your baby grows, breast milk has an impact on your baby's health even after you've finished breastfeeding.
Breast Milk Reduces the Risk of Future Conditions
Children who were breastfed as infants continue to see healthy side effects as toddlers and school-age children. If you breastfeed your infant, they may experience the following benefits:- Lower risk of allergies, asthma, and eczema
- Lower risk of leukemia and childhood cancers
- Fewer cases of diabetes
- Lower risk of respiratory diseases
- Strengthened immunity to infection
- Lower risk of obesity
- Fewer cases of speech problems
With breastfeeding, there may be less risk for your child in the future. With all of breast milk's benefits well past infancy, it's no surprise that many moms choose to breastfeed.
Breast Milk Promotes Healthy Baby Weight
As your newborn baby grows, they need to gain a healthy amount of weight.
Breastfeeding can not only help your baby gain the weight they need to be strong and healthy, but also help prevent obesity in childhood. Babies that breastfeed for over the first four months have a reduced risk of becoming overweight.
For babies, gut bacteria work differently when breastfeeding. Breast milk contains a hormone called leptin which regulates appetite and fat storage. Babies regulate their own milk intake and stop eating once they're satisfied. This helps them develop healthy eating patterns.
Breastfeeding Is Convenient and Affordable
One of the advantages of breastfeeding over bottle formula is that it saves you time and money. Breast milk is readily available and you don't have to spend money on formula.
If you choose to breastfeed your baby, you can avoid:
- Measuring out formula daily
- Cleaning and sterilizing baby bottles
- Warming up milk and ensuring the adequate temperature
- Finding ways to warm up milk while on the go
One of the only expenses you can expect with breastfeeding is investing in a breast pump. Baby Buddha's Portable Breast Pump is easy to use, discreet and mimics your baby's suction to increase milk production.
Breastfeeding Can Help You Lose Weight
We've read about all of the amazing benefits that breast milk has on your baby but there are also benefits for you as well.
Some women find that breastfeeding their baby helps them lose their baby weight.
You want to ensure that you are taking care of yourself while you are taking care of your baby and eating the right foods. High-protein and fiber-rich foods are recommended to help keep your body healthy and full of nutrients. You also want to ensure that you stay hydrated and incorporate movement into your day.
Be sure to talk to your doctor about your recommended calorie intake for your milk supply.
Breastfeeding Strengthens Mother and Child Bonding
Skin-to-skin contact while breastfeeding creates a bond between you and your baby. This also promotes more cradling and stroking that create affectionate bonding that is crucial in the first few years of your baby's life.
Breastfeeding is an intimate time for you to get to know your baby. You learn their cues and earn their trust during this special time.
It can also increase calmness for both you and your baby.
Benefits of Breastfeeding Over Formula Feeding
As a mom, there are many decisions you have to make for your baby. Deciding how you will feed them is an important one that can help shape their health in infancy and beyond. By choosing to breastfeed your baby, you give them the added benefits of essential nutrients found in breast milk, a stronger mother and child bond, reduced infections, and healthy weight gain.
For you, not only can breastfeeding help you lose weight, but it also saves you time and money over formula feeding.
Be sure to visit our website for a full selection of breast pumps and more amazing baby products from Baby Buddha.
