In honor of Breastfeeding Week 2019 (Thursday, August 1 – Wednesday, August 7) I am sharing with you some of the best benefits to breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is 100% a personal choice, but it is an important choice worth considering. After all, the emotional and physical connection for a breastfeeding mother and baby is unlike any other bond. Babies associate the breast with more than just a way to satisfy hunger and thirst. Babies see nursing as a place of comfort, warmth, and familiarity.
The act of nursing is not just nourishing; it is nurturing.
The benefits of breastfeeding can last a lifetime
Have you ever thought about breastfeeding but you’re on the fence about it? What is causing you to be unsure about this important decision? Maybe you’ve heard from friends and family how challenging and at times painful it can be. I’m not just talking about physical pain, but it can be emotionally painful too. You’re stressing over underproducing, your baby isn’t latching, you don’t get any help feeding the baby, you need to pump multiple times at work. It can be a lot.
Or, maybe you think it will take up too much of your time. How much time does it take up? Take into consideration this rough estimate from a mom who calculated that she spent 1,825 hours breastfeeding her now one-year-old daughter. Of course, this number can vary greatly from mom to mom depending on how often you are nursing, if you pump, if you supplement with formula, etc. It may sound like a lot, but once you get the hang of it it really comes as second nature.
So if it takes up so much extra time, why are so many moms exclusively breastfeeding?
The benefits of breastfeeding can last a lifetime.
How? Check out these 5 amazing benefits of breastfeeding for both your baby and you and find out!
1. Breastmilk contains everything your baby needs
Breastmilk is the ideal nutrition for babies, containing everything your baby needs to grow strong and healthy. With the best proteins, fats, vitamins, and carbohydrates, breastmilk is literally custom made to meet your little one’s developmental needs.
Breastmilk has been linked to fighting off illness and disease while your baby is breastfeeding, thanks to antibodies that help fight off viruses and bacteria. Oftentimes sick babies are able to recover faster from illness due to the breastmilk providing antibodies specific to the illness or infection. How amazing is that? But the best part: the benefits of fighting off illness and disease are continued through their adult life. Like I said above: the benefits last a lifetime!
Not only does it provide your little one with a healthy body, but a healthy mind, too! Breastfeeding has been linked to improved brain development in babies. Breastfeeding can increase a baby’s brain growth by 20 to 30 percent.
2. Nursing Helps Your Babies Sleep
Most parents are under the impression that formula-fed babies sleep better and longer at night than breastfed babies, which sounds like the best option when you are sleep deprived as a new parent. Believe me, I’ve been there. Waking up a handful of times throughout the night, feeling like a zombie, pleading with your babe to stay asleep long enough for you to feel even the slightest bit rested.
Babies are all different. Some formula-fed babies will wake more often than breastfed babies during the night and vice versa. But the great benefit of breastfed babies at night: they fall back to sleep easier. Mothers who nurse are not only able to satisfy their woken baby sooner (no need to prepare a bottle, wait for it to heat, etc…) but are able to get their little one to fall back to sleep sooner by breastfeeding. This is because breastfeeding is such a comforting act for your little one.
When my little one was still co-sleeping, I was able to nurse him at night without him opening his eyes much at all, allowing him to fall back to sleep quite fast. Even now, if my little guy wakes in the middle of the night I am able to nurse him back to sleep before I can even fully wake up.
3. Breastfeeding Promotes A Healthy Weight For All
Breastfeeding promotes a healthy weight for both you and your baby!
Let’s start with you! Did you know breastfeeding burns about 500-700 calories extra per day? It’s no surprise that a lot of breastfeeding moms say they’re able to lose weight faster than non-breastfeeding moms. This may not be true for every single mom, but it’s totally worth a shot, right? Keep in mind a lot of other factors can inhibit weight loss, such as stress, lack of sleep, eating poorly — all daily components of a new mom.
Breastfeeding can help promote a healthy weight for your baby, as well! Breast milk provides your baby with nutritious food that is easy to digest. Typically, exclusively breastfed babies weigh less than formula-fed babies and have less of a chance of being over-weight, both as a child and adult. Childhood obesity is often linked to adult obesity; therefore, creating a healthy weight now for your baby can help them maintain a healthy weight through his/her adulthood. Again, the benefits last a lifetime!
4. Breastfeeding Moms are Healthier
Mothers who breastfeed can recover from childbirth more quickly and easily. Breastfeeding moms report feeling better, both physically and emotionally, due to the strong connection from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can improve moms physical and mental health by:
- Releases good hormones which aid in a healthier mom:
- Prolactin: Produces a peaceful sensation, allowing mom to feel relaxed
- Oxytocin: Promotes a sense of love and attachment
- Helps uterus contract: When oxytocin is released it helps return the uterus to its regular size more quickly and can reduce postpartum bleeding. (source)
- Lower risk of depression: Women who breastfed their babies were at a significantly lower risk of postnatal depression than those who did not. (source)
- Reduces the risk of cancer: Studies show that women who breastfed had reduced rates of breast and ovarian cancer later in life. (source)
- Prevents menstruation: Exclusively breastfeeding can delay the return of a menstrual period, especially if the baby is 6 months or younger. The longer you breastfeed, the lighter (or nonexistent) the menstrual cycle due to the high prolactin hormone levels. (source)
5. Breastfeeding Saves Time and Money
No surprise here: breastfeeding saves A LOT of money. Have you looked at prices of formula? Do you know how much your baby will be eating? Newsflash, it’s all the time. Breastmilk is free. F-R-E-E. On average, parents spend $1,500 on formula in the first year, which does not include special formula, which can cost upwards of $400 per month! (source). Aside from formula costs, babies are expensive. Save money and try to breastfeed!
Breastfeeding can help mom and baby feel more relaxed. Moms are able to feed a crying baby immediately, so less crying means mom and baby are happier. Exclusively breastfeeding (no pumping) saves the most time. No need to measure, mix, or heat a bottle. No need to sterilize and wash bottle after bottle day after day. No need to run to the store to stock up on formula all the time. Sounds pretty great, right?
Still unsure if you want to breastfeed? Again, it is 100% a personal choice. But just remember by breastfeeding you can be 100% certain your baby is getting the absolute best nutrition for his/her health now and later. Plus, the emotional and physical connection for the breastfeeding mother and baby is unlike any other bond.
