Breastfeeding Benefits for Both Mom and Baby

Lactation is a natural biological process for all mammals leading to many breastfeeding benefits for mothers and babies. As the human body is designed to both give breast milk and consume it, the list of benefits for the mother and the baby combined is extensive. If you are considering the choice between nursing or bottle feeding with formula, be sure to peruse the subsequent list to help you in your decision making process. Remember, you can always attempt breastfeeding in the beginning, but once you stop, there is no turning back.

Breastfeeding Benefits for Mom

• Breastfeeding naturally builds confidence in parenting skills.

• Hormone changes, brought on by nursing, create a quicker bond combined with the unique intimacy between mother and baby.

• Lactation hormones naturally relax the mother and subsequently the infant.

• Breast milk is significantly cheaper than formula, practically free to be exact.

• Nursing gradually causes weight loss and awards the woman her pre-pregnancy body back earlier.

• The immune boost that breast milk provides creates less illness and doctor visits for the baby, providing less hassle for the parents.

• Breast milk is instantly available anytime, perfectly prepared with the correct amount at the right temperature.

• There is no better-designed food for a growing infant. Formula manufactures continue to try, but they cannot match the exact ingredients in human breast milk.

• For the smaller breasted woman, larger breasts for a time.

• The time and restrictions involved during breastfeeding, forces the mother to slow down and focus directly on the baby.

• Research has proven long-term protection for the lactating mother against many diseases later in life, including Type 2 diabetes, pre-menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

• While breastfeeding temporarily reduces the calcium supply in a mother's system, after lactation is complete, the body actually rebuilds bone density to a higher rate than before pregnancy. Therefore, reducing the risk of osteoporosis and other bone problems later in life for the mother.

• Mom can sleep while nursing, making middle of night feedings easier when sharing a bed.

• Lactation will suppress the menstrual cycle, relieving a woman of its symptoms, and reducing the risk of a quick second pregnancy and anemia.

• Offering the breast provides quick comfort for an unhappy baby from both the calming affect of milk and the hormones within.

• Breastfeeding immediately after birth reduces the risk of extra blood loss from delivery.

Breastfeeding Benefits for Baby

• The absolute best skin-on-skin cuddle contact time there is for a baby is to nurse from mom's breast.

• Breast milk provides the perfect nutrition, ideal food that is nature made for a baby's system and development.

• Improves the baby's overall health: reducing sickness, particularly respiratory infections, diarrhea, and ear infections.

• Breastfeeding provides optimal development for a baby, with the brain receiving the perfect fats and fatty acids leading to a higher I.Q.

• Watching their mother's face while nursing has shown to improve a baby's social relationships and vision.

• Breast milk helps to boost the baby's immune system with the appropriate proteins and antibodies found in the mother's milk.

• Breast milk is the easiest food for a baby to digest, therefore, creating an ideal bacterial environment and significantly less allergies.

• Breastfeeding has been proven to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS.

• Nursing your baby decreases the risk of developing allergies and asthma later in life.

• Adults and children who were breastfeed have a reduced risk of developing autoimmune diseases, certain cancers and Crones disease.

• Breast milk adjusts to a baby's needs: changing throughout the feeding, during the time of day and as they grow older.

• Children, and even adults, who were breastfeed are significantly less likely to be obese or overweight later in life.

• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of a colicky baby.

Other Related Benefits

• Significant environmental benefit, as breastfeeding uses no natural resources and creates no waste.

• Worldwide health care cost benefit, reducing the cost of insurance, doctors and medications as breastfeeding leads to healthier adults and children.

• Breastfeeding means breaking free of the commercial society and creating a more natural culture.