The benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond basic nutrition

Breast feeding week special
Breast milk is best for the baby, and the benefits of breastfeeding extend well beyond basic nutrition. In addition to containing all the vitamins and nutrients baby needs in the first six months of life, breast milk is packed with disease-fighting substances that protect your baby from illness. Scientific studies have shown that breastfeeding is good for mother’s health, too.
Look at some of the most important benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and baby both.

Breastfeeding protects baby from a long list of illnesses

Stomach viruses, lower respiratory illnesses, ear infections, and meningitis, risk of early dying occur less often and less severe in breastfed babies. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months seems to offer the most protection.

The main immune factor at work here is a substance called secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) thats present in large amounts in colostrum, the first milk your body produces for your baby. Breastfeeding can reduce a childs risk of developing certain childhood cancers.

Breastfeeding may also help children avoid a host of diseases that strike later in life, such as type 1 and type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease and later development of Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis..

Breastfeeding can protect your baby from developing allergies

Babies who are fed a formula based on cows milk or soy tend to have more allergic reactions than breastfed babies.

Breastfeeding may boost your childs intelligence

Various researchers have found a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive development.

Various studies showed that babies who were breastfed had significantly higher scores on a vocabulary test at 5 years of age than children who were not breastfed..

Preterm infants with extremely low birth weight who received breast milk shortly after birth improved their mental development scores at 18 months when compared with preterm infants who werent given breast milk. Experts say that the emotional bonding that takes place during breastfeeding probably contributes to some of the brainpower benefits, but that the fatty acids in breast milk may play the biggest role.

Breastfeeding may lower your babys risk of SIDS

Breast feeding is associated with a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The researchers concluded that exclusive breastfeeding at 1 month of age cut the risk of SIDS in half.

Breastfeeding can reduce your stress level and depression

Women who didnt breastfeed or who stopped breastfeeding early on had a higher risk of postpartum depression.

Many women report feeling relaxed while breastfeeding. Thats because nursing triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin promotes nurturing and relaxation.

Breastfeeding may reduce your risk of some types of cancer

Numerous studies have found that the longer women breastfeed, the more theyre protected against breast and ovarian cancer may be due to the structural changes in breast tissue caused by breastfeeding and the fact that lactation suppresses the amount of estrogen your body produces. Researchers think the effect on ovarian cancer may be related to estrogen suppression as well.