15 Understated Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mothers and Baby

Breastfeeding is one of the most natural and essential parts of caring for your little one. Its benefits go beyond nourishment—it is a way for mother and child to connect.

Breastfeeding also promotes the mother and baby’s emotional well-being and long-term health and development. For this reason, several government organisations and international bodies encourage new mothers to breastfeed their babies.

In this blog, we aim to shed light on the many benefits of breastfeeding.

What is Breastfeeding?

As the name indicates, breastfeeding is feeding an infant milk directly from the breast. It supplies all the essential nutrients for the baby’s growth and development, especially in the first few months.

Apart from supplying nutrition to the child, breastfeeding also creates a deeper emotional bond between the mother and the baby, providing a sense of comfort and security.

The Nutritional Benefits of Breast Milk

Breast milk is packed with nutritional value and meets the nutritional and immunological needs of the child. The key nutrients present in breast milk include:

• Proteins: Protein is the building block of the cells and tissues of the human body. Breast milk contains whey and casein, which are easy-to-digest forms of protein.

• Fats: Breast milk contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a healthy omega-3 fatty acid that’s essential for brain and vision development and functioning.

• Carbohydrates: Carbohydrates are a source of energy. Breast milk contains lactose, which not only maintains energy levels but also supports the absorption of calcium.

• Antibodies: Antibodies protect the baby from infections, allergies, and illnesses.

• Vitamins and Minerals: Breast milk caters to the baby’s developmental needs and contains several vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iron, and vitamin D to support their growth and development.

• Probiotics: The probiotics present in breast milk support a healthy gut microbiome, which reduces digestive issues in your baby.

Breastfeeding Vs. Formula Feeding

Busy mothers often rely on baby formula to feed their children. While choosing between breastfeeding or formula feeding your baby is a personal decision that depends on several factors. Each has pros and cons. Here’s an overview:

Importance of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is vital not just for the mother and child but also for society at large. Here are some key reasons that underscore the importance of breastfeeding:

• Optimal Nutrition: Breast milk is perfectly composed to meet your baby’s every nutritional need. The perfect balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and other nutrients makes it a complete source of nutrition.

• Stronger Immune System: The antibodies and probiotics present in breast milk protect your baby from infections, illnesses, allergies, and chronic conditions. The probiotics.

• Cognitive Development: Studies show that breastfed babies score higher on tests of neurodevelopment and cognition later in life.

• Maternal Health: Breastfeeding wards off maternal health issues like breast and ovarian cancer, postpartum depression, and osteoporosis.

• Economic Benefit: Unlike formula, breastfeeding is cost-effective and accessible to all. It also cuts down any medical or healthcare benefits for the mother and child.

• Mother-child Bonding: Breastfeeding forges a strong bond between the mother and child and also provides comfort and security to your baby.

• No Carbon Footprint: While baby formula needs to be produced, packaged, and distributed, breast milk is naturally available, so it has no carbon footprint.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby

Breastfeeding is beneficial to your baby in the following ways:

1. Complete Nutrition

Breast milk is the ultimate superfood for babies. It packs in all the nutrients necessary for the healthy growth and development of your baby. It is easily digestible, making all the fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals bioavailable to the baby.

The composition of breast milk also adapts to your baby’s needs while they grow so that they receive optimal nutrition at each stage.

2. Strengthened Immunity

The antibodies present in breast milk are your baby’s first line of defence against illnesses. As a result, breastfed babies are less likely to develop colds, flu, allergies, and gastrointestinal issues. Such protection is particularly crucial in the first 1000 days of the life of a newborn.

3. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases

Research shows that breast milk contributes to your baby’s short- and long-term health and well-being. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, respiratory tract infections, heart conditions, and possibly even tumours in their later life.

The unique composition of breast milk regulates the baby’s metabolism and supports healthy weight gain. Such a healthy nutritional foundation prevents any lifestyle-related diseases.

4. Improved Gut Health

The probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes present in breast milk support the development of a healthy gut microbiome. This aids digestion and further improves overall immunity. Your baby’s healthy gut is less likely to experience diarrhoea, constipation, and coeliac issues.

5. Lower Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Studies indicate that SIDS was 40% less likely in infants who have been breastfed at least some of the time for 2-4 months. The risk of SIDS is lower due to the protective effects of breast milk on the baby’s respiratory and nervous systems.

Hence, mothers are highly encouraged to breastfeed exclusively during the first six months and practice safe sleeping practices to maximise the health benefits.

6. Stronger Emotional Security

As mentioned, breast milk offers emotional comfort and security to your child. The close skin-to-skin contact during feeding reassures the baby and cultivates a feeling of trust and safety. This emotional connection is said to have far-reaching effects on your child’s social and emotional development.

The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mothers

The advantages of breastfeeding are not limited to babies, as it proves beneficial for mothers, too. Here’s how:

The Benefits of Breastfeeding by Month

The month-by-month benefits of breastfeeding are tabulated below:

Benefits of Extended Breastfeeding

Extended breastfeeding refers to giving your baby breast milk beyond the first year. It can have the following health benefits:

• Nutritional support that supplements our toddler’s diet
• Enhanced immunity that protects the toddler
• Comfort and security that aids emotional regulation
• Natural weaning that allows them to transition to solid foods without any stress

Apart from benefiting your baby, extended breastfeeding is also beneficial to mothers as it protects them from breast and ovarian cancer.

Societal and Environmental Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding has societal and environmental benefits, which are listed below:

• Reduced healthcare costs: Breastfeeding minimises the need for medical interventions for mothers and babies. Breastfed babies have stronger immune systems, resulting in fewer doctor visits and hospitalisations. Similarly, mothers are at lower risk of postpartum complications and other long-term diseases.

• Environmentally friendly: Unlike baby formula, breastfeeding does not require packaging, manufacturing, or transportation. This makes it an eco-friendly alternative that supports global efforts to reduce waste and fight climate change.

• Improves public health: Healthy mothers and babies lead to a healthier population, reducing the strain on public healthcare systems and associated expenditures, which can be reallocated to other wellness initiatives.

Challenges of Breastfeeding

Despite the several benefits of breastfeeding, it faces several physical, emotional, and societal hurdles. Here are some common ones, along with potential solutions:

1. Latching Difficulties

Some babies struggle to latch properly, which makes feeding difficult and causes pain to the mother. Consulting a medical professional can alleviate the frustration associated with latching difficulties.

2. Low Milk Supply

Some mothers produce less milk due to factors such as stress, poor nutrition, and insufficient feeding frequency. Feeding on demand stimulates milk production and ensures that your baby gets enough to eat.

3. Engorgement and Mastitis

Breast engorgement is a condition in which the breasts become overly full and can be quite painful. It can even lead to mastitis, a painful infection of the breast tissue. To alleviate engorgement, apply a warm compress before feeding and a cold compress after. Gentle breast massage also helps relieve pressure and pain.

4. Balancing Responsibilities

Mothers may find it difficult to balance work or household responsibilities with breastfeeding. Build a support system involving your partner and family members to help you achieve perfect balance.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding is crucial for infant and maternal health and has a deep impact on society, the environment, and public health. However, to reap such well-rounded benefits, we must create a supportive environment that encourages and enables mothers to breastfeed their babies successfully.

While work is regulated by laws mandating paid maternity leave and childcare leave, we must also mobilise as a community to normalise breastfeeding.

New mothers should also know that they are not alone in this breastfeeding journey. Onsurity has many resources to keep them informed about the best practices of child-rearing and self-care. So stay tuned and keep reading!

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