8 health benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child

The benefits of breastfeeding are not just for the child but for the mother as well. It is the perfect nutrition for your baby to grow and build his or her immune system. Children who are well breastfed tend to be healthy and less likely to be hospitalised. 

Breast milk contains every essential nutrient a baby needs to develop. It has unique minerals, antioxidants, and a formula. As a mother, it is highly recommended that you breastfeed for the first 6 months of your baby’s life. 

Afterwards, you can give your baby solid foods alongside breast milk. Your breast milk will change and adapt to the needs of the baby as he or she grows.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for two years or even longer because it will continue to aid the health and growth of your child. After an hour of childbirth, you can start to breastfeed so that your baby can get the early benefits.

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Breastfeeding benefits for the child

1. Contains antibodies

Breastfeeding will help your baby fight bacteria and viruses because breast milk contains special antibodies. The first breast milk given to a child is called “colostrum,” which contains high amounts of immunoglobulin A. 

This nutrient protects a baby from getting sick; unlike babies who are not breastfed, they are susceptible to infection, diarrhea, and pneumonia.

2. Promotes healthy weight gain

Babies who are well breastfed, starting from four months, show significant healthy weight, not overweight or obesity. They have more beneficial gut bacteria that may affect fat storage, including leptin,  a hormone that helps to regulate appetite and fat storage. 

3. May reduce disease risk

Regular lactation reduces the risk of your baby getting various illnesses and diseases. Your milk can prevent infections of the respiratory tract, gut, middle ear, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Also, no chance of having eczema, asthma, atopic dermatitis, ulcerative colitis, bowel diseases, or childhood leukemia.

4. It is nutritious 

Another healthy benefit of breastfeeding is that all the necessary nutrients your baby needs for the first six months of life are already in the breast milk. In the first few days of delivery, your breast would produce a thick and yellowish fluid called colostrum —it is low in sugar, full of beneficial compounds, and high in protein. This milk cannot be compared or replaced by formula; it is more than that. 

Breastfeeding benefits for the mother

5. Reduces disease risk

As a lactating mother, you’re protected for a long time against different diseases, including cancer (both ovarian and breast). You’re at lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and arthritis.

6. Lower risk of depression

Some women develop postpartum depression (PPD) shortly after childbirth. But a mother who starts to breastfeed early is less likely to develop it compared to one who doesn’t. However, women who experience postpartum depression immediately after delivery are more likely to have trouble with giving milk.

7. Helps your uterus contract 

Pregnancy enlarges the uterus. After delivery, you go through a process called “ovulation,” which helps your uterus return to its previous size with the help of “oxytocin,” a hormone that increases throughout pregnancy. Oxytocin also helps to reduce bleeding and the delivery of the baby. 

8. May help you lose weight 

It is not unusual for nursing mothers to add weight. However, some women would rather lose weight during breastfeeding –  it burns more calories after 3 months of producing milk.