Top Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby

More and more mothers are choosing to breastfeed their children because of the indisputable health benefits for both mother and child. It is also important to keep in mind that when at all possible, breastfeeding should be the exclusive form of feeding for at least the first 6 months of your child’s life.

There can be many reasons mothers are not able to breastfeed. They may even have intentions but due to certain circumstances, are unable to continue past a few weeks or maybe even a few months. Remember, some is better than none and you can only do what is best for the health of you and your baby. Below is a list from www.motheringfromtheheart.com.

• Children receive the most complete and optimal mix of nutrients & antibodies
• The varying composition of breastmilk keeps pace with the infant’s individual growth and changing nutritional needs
• Have fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the US (20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths in the U.S.)
• Protection against gastroenteritis, necrotizing entercolitis
• Reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets
• Reduced risk of childhood diabetes
• Protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, septicemia (blood poisoning),
• Protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, and severity of allergic disease
• Reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) Statistics reveal that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed.
• Protection against meningitis, botulism, childhood lymphoma, crohn’s disease and ulcerative entercolits
• Decreased risk of tooth decay (cavities)
• Nursing promotes facial structure development, enhanced speech, straighter teeth and enhances vision.
• Breastfed infants develop higher IQ’s, and have improved brain and nervous system development; IQ advantage of 10-12 points studied at ages 8, 12, and 18. (Breastfeeding is considered the 4th trimester in brain growth and development…there are specific proteins in human milk that promote brain development))
• Reduced risk of heart disease later in life
• Increased bone density
• Breastfeeding plays an important role in the emotional and spiritual development of babies
• Breastfed babies enjoy a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers
• Antibody response to vaccines are higher
• Are hospitalized 10 times less than formula fed infants in the first year of life
• The colostrum (first milk) coats the GI tract, preventing harmful bacteria and allergy -triggering protein molecules from crossing into baby’s blood
• Decreased risk for vitamin E and Iron deficiency anemia
• Decreased risk for acute appendicitis, rheumatoid arthritis, inguinal hernia, pyloric stenosis
• There are factors in human milk that destroy E coli, salmonella, shigella, streptococcus, pneumococcus….and many others
• Less risk of childhood obesity

Not to mention the benefits for mom!

• Breastfeeding helps burn extra calories so prepregnancy weight can be attained at a faster rate.
• It’s a great money saving measure as formula can get expensive and so do healthcare costs for sick children.
• Children will stay healthier as they grow which means less time off of work.
• Special child/mother bonds are created.
• There is a reduced risk of anemia.
• Less risk of breast, ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers.

No matter what, the choice is yours whether you breastfeed your baby or not. The benefits are definitely something to keep in mind and they are profound benefits. If you are having trouble making the decision, get yourself educated on the benefits, weigh your own cons and decide which is best for you and your child. After all, the children are most important.