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The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Both Mother and Newborn

pramod321

posted on 1 year ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Breastfeeding is a natural and safe way to feed your Newborn baby. Studies show that breastfeeding is best for the Newborn baby and the mother. Breastfeeding helps protect against sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, diarrhea, allergies, and asthma. It also provides many benefits for the mother. Breastfeeding can help prevent breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

What should you know about breastfeeding Newborn?

It also provides important nutrients for mothers, including folate, calcium, and vitamin D. Breastfeeding also gives mothers a much-needed break from the stress of parenting. Being a mother is the most beautiful period of any female’s life. The feeling can’t be compared or adjusted with any other feeling in the world. The journey of being a mother starts right from the time of pregnancy. The initial journey sounds very easy, but the real journey starts after the delivery and is quite eventful.

Once the baby is born, the first thing he needs is his mother and breastmilk. Breastmilk is considered to be the best food for the newborn till it turns half and year of age. But the period of breastfeeding doesn’t stop right after 6 months. WHO and pediatrics suggest that breastfeeding should continue at least for 1 year. It brings a lot of benefits for both the mother and the baby. Breastmilk is so filled with nutrients that it brings about most of the brain and bone development for the child. Up to 19% of the risk of childhood leukemia is relieved if the child is only feeding on breast milk till he turns 6 months. While a continuous two months of breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing SIDS in the baby by almost 62%. Besides, for the mother, a continuous period of breastfeeding lowers her risk of developing breast cancers and various other diseases.

Benefits of breastfeeding

Apart from the above-mentioned things, there are various reasons for which breastfeeding a newborn is very important. Some of the reasons indicate the benefits enjoyed by the mother body post proper breastfeeding, while some include the benefits gained by the newborn. Let us look at each of them, one by one.

For the mother

For the mother’s body as well as health, breastfeeding is very beneficial. It reduces the risk of various health problems and also gives the ultimate satisfaction from within. Let us look at each one by one.

Brings emotional peace

Breastfeeding is just not to feed your baby, it is also about bringing mental peace to yourself. Postpartum depression is real. Every year more than 10-20% of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression. It makes them uninterested and unwilling to breastfeed their babies for a longer term. It increases their irritation level and hence, deprives them of enjoying the beautiful journey of breastfeeding. But if you continuously keep up the habit of breastfeeding your baby, then the chances of developing depression fade away. The peak period when it hits the mother is during the first 4 months of delivery. Keeping yourself attached to breastfeeding at this time will help you protect yourself from the problem and also provide mental peace.

Another aspect and benefit of breastfeeding is the feeling that you get while nursing. It develops a bond between you two. Also, it provides you with a unique physical and emotional connection with your baby. Breastfeeding is the only parenting experience that is unique to mothers, so it is a one-time phenomenon that you enjoy for the rest of your life.

Helps postpartum recovery

During breastfeeding your child, your body releases certain good hormones. These hormones are found to be very effective and healthy in keeping you happy. The happier you stay, the easier it becomes for your body to adapt to the changes. And hence supports recovery.

One most important hormone released by the body during nursing your child is the oxytocin hormone. This hormone is found very effective in bringing recovery post childbirth. Oxytocin helps the uterus to get back to its normal size and also reduces postpartum bleeding. Apart from this, engaging yourself in exclusive feeding will also be very helpful for you. It will delay your menstruation return and hence will help in extending the period between your periods. Thus, this exclusive breastfeeding can act as a natural contraceptive for you.

Alleviates chances of health problems

Breastfeeding brings in a lot of health benefits for the mother’s body. Women who breastfeed their kids have very high chances of avoiding ovarian and uterine cancer. Besides, the chances of high blood pressure and developing type 2 diabetes and other cardiovascular diseases, are very low in women who continuously breastfeed their newborns. So, breastfeeding alleviates the chances of various health problems for the mother’s body.

Makes you feel happy

While breastfeeding, the mother enjoys both physical and emotional connection with her baby. This experience helps in releasing happy hormones from the body. The two important happy hormones released by the body are oxytocin and prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that brings nurturing sensation to the other that helps her relax and concentrate on nurturing her relationship with her baby. While Oxytocin is a happy hormone that induces a strong feeling of love and attachment with the baby to the mother.

Hence, to feel the intimacy of the love and attachment with your baby, breastfeeding helps you a lot. Essentially the release of these hormones just not nourishes your relationship with your child but also helps you feel happy throughout the day. The best result found is the lack of irritation and depressive feeling during this beautiful journey.

Practically beneficial

Practically it is very convenient to breastfeed your baby than using any other method. Breastfeeding takes nothing extra than the mother and the baby. It doesn’t need any special formulation, neither it needs any special equipment to be carried along. Hence, it frees you from the need of carrying a baby bag full of baby-feeding equipment every time, whenever you go out.

Besides, since no equipment is used for the process, so it is also an environmentally friendly technique. It doesn’t pollute the environment with plastic bottles nor does it creates chemical hazards from the formula cans. So, be it for nature or humans, breastfeeding is the best technique that can help.

For the newborn

Having known, how is breastfeeding beneficial for the mommy’s health. Now let us look at the ways, breast milk benefits the newborn baby.

Best milk formula for the newborn

Breastmilk, unlike formula milk, is very gentle on the baby’s body. It is so full of nutrients that can’t be generated externally through formulas. Some of the beneficial nutrients present in breastmilk include fat, protein, calcium, sodium, etc. apart from just their presence, the quantity they are present is also very important. They are just sufficient to bring in adequate brain growth and nervous system development for the child.

Is easily digestible

Breastmilk is known to possess certain bacteria which go to the belly of the baby. These are good bacteria and are found to enter the baby’s body via the breastmilk and skin of the mother. These bacteria are so beneficial for the baby that it helps the baby to fight various gastrointestinal problems and also various allergies.

Apart from this, the breastmilk is very gentle, easily absorbable, and kind to the newly developing digestive system of the baby. The time taken to digest breastmilk is very less compared to digesting any formula milk and hence saves a lot of energy for the baby. In doing this, the extra energy saved can be utilized by the body to develop various functionings and enhance the body’s development.

Enhances the immunity

Breastmilk is filled with lots of good anti-infective properties. These properties and the beneficial bacteria present in the mother’s milk help the baby to develop a strong immune system. This in turn helps the baby to fight various infections and illnesses and thus saves the baby from severe hospitalization conditions. So, before any medicines, the only thing that is workable for the baby’s healthy body is the mother’s breastmilk.

Acts as a natural antibiotic

Breast milk is known to share the antibodies present in the mother’s body with the baby. These antibodies act to strengthen the immunity of the baby and provide strength to fight any foreign body. Besides, those babies who feed on breastmilk only till 6 months of age are more likely to be immune to various long-run and short-run illnesses. Some of the problems that breastfed babies are immune to are obesity, asthma, SIDs, ear infections and even type 1 diabetes.

Things you should know about breastfeeding newborn

Having known the various benefits that can be enjoyed by the mother and the baby due to breastfeeding. Now let us try to know certain important things that a new parent must know before and during breastfeeding.

Some lunching on tips

There are various things that a new parent doesn’t know about and eventually ends up making mistakes. These mistakes are not normal, they can cost a lot to your baby if not mended at the right time. Various techniques can be used to help a new parent move smoothly in this unique journey of breastfeeding. So, let us dive into the ocean of this new experience and know ways to make it successful.

Latching on is one of the most important processes in the breastfeeding process. A smooth and easy latching on is expected by every new mom, but it is not that easy sometimes. But with proper guidance, patience, and hanging on with your baby, you can master this process of latching on. Here below, we have some tips to help you master this process and feed your baby properly.

Sit in a comfortable position

It is of foremost importance for a new mommy to choose a comfortable position every time before starting to breastfeed her baby. A comfortable position will make your experience easy and also reduce extra discomfort from taking place. One of the tips for a comfortable position is by sitting on a chair with head, back, and neck support. This will smoothen your experience and also allow your baby to feed correctly.

Align your baby properly with you

Proper alignment of the baby with your body is another very essential element in proper breastfeeding. Try and make your baby align himself tummy to tummy with you. This ensures proper positioning of your baby’s mouth with your nipple. For help, you can also use a pillow below your baby.

Besides, positioning your baby properly can also be done by bringing him close to your nipple instead of leaning forward. A forward lean can lead to neck and backaches for you. So, instead, try to bring your baby close to you by using external supports or pillows.

If facing serious problems in latching on then seek help

Latching suggestions might seem easy, but the process can be very hectic. If you are also facing problems in latching on to your baby then don’t worry there are still options. Many new moms get stressed out and end up in tears due to an unsuccessful latching-on process. But this is not required. There are various lactation consultants. They can help you know the right method and if needed may also provide you with temporary nipple shields. So, instead of being stressful, make sure to seek help from an expert to make your latching process successful.

How often should a newborn be breastfed?

According to Whattoexpect for a newborn, breastfeeding must be repeated every 2-3 hours. Babies have a tiny tummy but it is quite efficient to digest the breastmilk easily. So, repetition in a regular interval is important.

Besides, a baby needs a minimum of 25 to 45 minutes to consume the milk from one breast. One thing you should make sure of while breastfeeding your baby is that you should allow your baby to himself stop sucking. Don’t force the nipple out of your baby’s mouth. This is because it is the hind milk that contains all the beneficial qualities of the breastmilk. It is filled with beneficial fats and provides the baby with its required nutrients.

Conclusion

The journey of breastfeeding is very essential in the life of a newborn. Unless you know the benefits that breastfeeding possesses for both you and your baby, it is very difficult to keep yourself motivated throughout the journey. Hence, above we have mentioned some of the major benefits of breastfeeding that both a new mom and a newborn enjoy. Taking motivation from them, you can enjoy your breastfeeding journey with ease.

Besides, this new journey of breastfeeding is not easy. So, we have mentioned above some latching-on tips for a new mother to help her enjoy this breastfeeding journey. Also, it is important to know that your baby digests the breastmilk very easily within 2-3 hours. So, make sure to repeat the feeding process every 3 hours, before your baby cries for the milk. Hence, with the above-mentioned tips, we hope you have a successful and enjoyable breastfeeding journey.