Breastfeeding: 10 benefits for the baby and for the mother

Breast milk is the best food for the newborn. Doctors recommend that from the moment the baby arrives in the world, it be fed with breast milk, preferably directly from the breast.

In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding as the exclusive form of feeding in the first 6 months of life. Then if possible it is better to extend it until 2 years of age, and breast milk has many benefits for the baby (and also for the mother).

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5 benefits of breastfeeding for the baby

After decades of research it has been concluded that there is nothing like breast milk. Breastfeeding has many benefits for the baby, and it should begin as early as the first hour of the newborn's life.

Whenever possible the baby's first food should be breast milk. No other foods need to be given until certain foods are introduced later, and the best reasons for this are listed below.

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1. It is the perfect food

Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby and there is nothing like it. The milk of these first days is called colostrum, and this liquid is rich in nutrients and antibodies. It thus promotes the development of the immune system, and it is also easy to digest.

Over the following months the content is adapted according to the needs of the baby at each stage. In this way it is always a suitably nutritious food, and provides a large amount of antibodies to prevent conditions such as diarrhea and pneumonia.

2. Facilitates the mother-child bond

Breastfeeding has emotional benefits for the baby. In the first months of life, the baby has the physiological need to have physical contact and closeness with her main attachment figures, the mother being the central figure.

Breastfeeding favors this closeness, giving the baby a feeling of security. Letting your mother's warm womb go out into the world can be overwhelming, and contact with your mother brings you calm.

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3. Promotes the correct development of the jaw

The suction that the baby makes when drinking breast milk favors the development of the jawas well as the teeth and muscles of the mouth. These intervene in the work of sucking, and begin to develop and strengthen at this stage.

Taking milk from the bottle does not require as much force, and the baby has to perform more passive movements. The very inclination of the bottle can make it easier for the milk to come out.

4. Prevents obesity in the baby

An exclusively breastfed baby will hardly be overweight. The reason is that breastfeeding is free demand, that is, there is a self-regulation mechanism during the first months by the baby. It rarely asks for more than it requires.

In addition, the milk component is always correct even if the mother's diet is not the most balanced. Breast milk is always nutritious and has the precise amount of fat that the infant requires.

5. Provides antibodies

One of the biggest benefits of breastfeeding for your baby is antibodies. During the entire time that breastfeeding lasts, the milk provides the baby with the specific antibodies that she needs.

This helps strengthen the baby's immune system. And not only during this stage, but also for the following years. Thanks to this property, babies have fewer infections, allergies and stomach problems.

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5 benefits of breastfeeding for the mother

Breastfeeding also favors the mother in many ways. Many of these benefits were not known, and they are certainly powerful reasons that represent powerful arguments to bet on breastfeeding.

This article may be of help to future mothers who have some doubts on the subject. From La Guía Femenina we hope that you can help convince many women that breastfeeding is beneficial for both them and their baby.

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1. Prevents breast and ovarian cancer

Breastfeeding helps reduce the risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. The longer you breastfeed, the less likely you are to develop breast and ovarian cancer.

This is because during lactation there are changes in the breasts and ovaries. These organs are protected against the development of precancerous cells, even long after breastfeeding has ended.

2. Reduces the weight gained during pregnancy

In most cases breastfeeding helps you lose weight. This is because the energy and resources required for milk production cause the body to absorb accumulated fat, and as a result there is a decrease in weight.

The greatest weight loss occurs after the third month, and you can continue to lose weight the longer you breastfeed. For this reason it is not advisable to follow a diet to lose weight after childbirth, it is best to maintain a balanced diet.

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3. Reduces the risk of postpartum depression

Breastfeeding can help eliminate postpartum depression. It is very comforting for the mother to live this experience, and it can help to lift her spirits in these delicate moments.

During this process, an enormous amount of oxytocin is secreted that helps the mother to feel calm, and this decreases the possibility of depression.

4. Delays the onset of menstrual periods

During the time that breastfeeding lasts, menstruation may disappear. This is completely normal. Although it is not a totally effective method of contraception, the chances of a pregnancy during the first 6 months are low and there is no rule.

Of course, this happens as long as exclusive breastfeeding is done and at the free demand of the baby. In some women an irregular menstruation may occur and in others it simply does not appear. This is attributed to the physiological processes linked to breastfeeding.

5. Convenience and savings

Breastfeeding is comfortable and saves time and money, or at least if it is compared to an artificial diet. You do not have to pay anything for breast milk, and it is that you do not need to buy milk or bottles.

In addition, there is no need for any prior preparation, as it is always available and at the exact temperature. Although getting started can be tricky, once the technique is mastered it is much more practical than having to get up to prepare a bottle.

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Bibliographic references

• Aguiar, H. and Silva, A.I. (2011). Breastfeeding: the importance of intervening. Portuguese Medical Act, 24 (4), 889–896.

• Parigi, S.M., Eldh, M., Larssen, P., Gabrielsson, S. and Villablanca, E.J. (2015). Breast Milk and Solid Food Shaping Intestinal Immunity ». Front Immunol., 6, 415.

• Salone, L.R., Vann, W.F. and Dee, D.L. (2013). Breastfeeding: an overview of oral and general health benefits. Journal of the American Dental Association 144 (2), 143–151.