Health Benefits of Breastfeeding

Pregnancy is the most important experience for a woman in her life and the same is the case with breastfeeding. However, there are a lot of women who do not breastfeed their infants. While in some cases it may be due to a medical condition but in most cases, it is by choice. Whatever may be the reason, it is a big mistake to choose not to breastfeed. Why? Because breastfeeding carries many benefits and not just for babies but for moms, too. Breast milk is an excellent form of nourishment for babies, as it is loaded with lots of antibodies and nutrients. These nutrients boost the immune system and overall health of the child. The benefits of breastfeeding for both the mother and the child are abundant. The researchers and scientists keep discovering new merits of breastfeeding with every passing day.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Every mother should breastfeed their child if they are physically and medically capable. In this article, we will share some of the benefits of breastfeeding to motivate you to breastfeed your child.

Helps Restore Iron

Generally, every woman experiences the absence of menstruation for the first 4 to 6 weeks after delivery. However, for the women who choose to breastfeed their child, this condition lasts twice as compared to those who don’t. Breastfeeding makes it easier and quicker for mothers to restore the iron which becomes deficient during pregnancy and labor.

Keeps Reproductive Organs Healthy

Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer. It may lower the risk of osteoporosis, as well. On the other hand, non-breastfeeding women have higher risks of these conditions. This is because of the repeated ovulatory cycles and exposure to higher levels of estrogen.

Reduces Risk of Diabetes, Heart diseases, Obesity, and Other Health Conditions

Research shows that women, who breastfeed their child for at least one year, have:

• 9% lesser risk of suffering from heart diseases
• 20% fewer chances of becoming diabetic
• 12% fewer chances of having high blood pressure
• 19% fewer chances of having high levels of fat in the blood

These benefits are not just for mothers; breastfed babies also have fewer chances of suffering from heart diseases in adulthood.

Boosts Immune System of the Baby

If you breastfeed your child, they will have a stronger immune system. Their immune system will be more resilient towards bacteria, germs, and viruses. Besides boosting the immune system of the child, breastfeeding also increases the positive benefits of vaccinations.

Helps Improve Overall Life After Pregnancy

Breastfeeding has many physical and emotional benefits, too. It burns extra calories accumulated during pregnancy and helps lose weight faster. Furthermore, it is a natural phenomenon that breastfeeding closely ties the mother and child emotionally.

In short, the list of benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and child is quite exhaustive. However, unfortunately, not all mothers may be able to breastfeed their child due to their medical conditions. For instance, sometimes due to breast implants, the ability to breastfeed is lost, but that is very rare. So, those who are capable and motivated to breastfeed their child in the early days should not miss the opportunity.