If you are planning to give up on breastfeeding or are you a new mom, who is confused about the benefits of breastfeeding, please read this article. Breastfeeding is not only good for a baby and mother, but for the family, society, and the entire environment.

It is believed by the experts that babies that received breastfeeding immediately after their birth, shared a comparatively stronger psychologically and physiologically bond with their mother, as compare to others.

Breastfed children perform much better, due to their faster psycho-motor development.

Colostrum (the first breast milk) contains anti-bacterial and anti-viral factors, which protect the child from illness. The essential elements that a baby can have from colostrum, are no present in any available formula milk.

Breast milk also helps to develop the baby’s immune system. Even on the packings of the formulas, it is written that mother’s milk is the best food for the baby. And, experts believe breast-milk is the best source of nutrition for a baby.

Do you know, infectious diarrhea is one of the other leading causes of death among infants in developing countries? The babies under two months of age who are not breastfed, they are always at a higher risk of death.

For your information, continuing breastfeeding during the disease reduces dehydration, disease severity, duration, and consequences. Breastfeeding is not contraindicated in infectious diarrhea. On the contrary, it helps the healing through the antibodies it contains. You are not allowed to feed any milk, but breast milk, in diarrhea.

Breast milk is a living food that cannot be imitated. It is easier to digest than any other breast milk substitutes available in the market. And, the best part is, breast milk keeps on changing its composition over time, depending on the growth stages of the baby. It automatically satisfies all the nutritional needs of a child in his first 6 months of life.

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To completely eradicate malnutrition among children up to 6 months, breastfeeding is an exclusive solution. For young children over 6 months of age, breastfeeding is the basis of healthy growth. Breastfed children, even those born prematurely, had higher developmental scores and a higher IQ than those of other infants who were not breastfed. Breastfed children grow much better than those fed powdered milk.

Breast milk is nutritious and easy to digest food, which improves the body’s food resources. When a baby is sick and without appetite, breast milk can provide him with his daily requirements of nutrition. You must not eliminate breastfeeding when your baby is not showing any willingness for any other food. When sick, your baby receives the most important source of nutrients and antibodies.

For your information, there is no milk intolerance among children who have been breast-fed. They may be intolerant to cow milk protein, but not if they are breastfeeding.

Approximately 9 million cases of infant deaths are estimated annually. Breastfeeding would save about 6 million of them, just by preventing infectious diseases.

If a baby is breastfed, he is protected from all the diseases that his mother had and for which her milk provides antibodies such as measles, chickenpox, rubella, mumps.

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Breastfeeding in addition to helping the mother regain her pre-birth weight also improves her psycho-affective state.

This benefit is reinforced by the support of the family – husband, grandparents, friends, all of which increase the mother’s confidence in her strengths. Everyone has to trust her. Depression is favored by hormonal decline.

Statistics show that among breastfeeding women, the incidence of breast cancer and ovarian cancer is much lower, compared to women who do not breastfeed after birth. Also, breastfeeding decreases the risk of postpartum bleeding and anemia in mothers.

Breastfeeding reduces fertility. Breastfeeding mothers usually have a longer period of infertility after birth. As long as the baby is exclusively breastfeeding, day and night, ovulation does not occur, the menstrual cycle is not reinstated, and the mother does not become pregnant.

When the diversification of the diet begins or the supplement at night with the milk powder, the risk of pregnancy is very high.

Breast milk is fresh, sterile, always at optimum temperature and ready for use at any time. Unlike formulas, you don’t have to boil it before serving.

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Breastfeeding saves you a lot of money because for breastfeeding you do not need to spend on expensive formulas, bottles, nipples, and other accessories. On broader terms, as breastfeeding improves your baby’s immunity, so you can expect less illness of the child.

Last but not least, through breastfeeding you are helping the environment. As you are not buying suckers, bottles, and nipples, etc. So, you are not polluting the environment.

So, these were a few very important benefits of breastfeeding. In case, you want to add a few more, please let us know in the comments. And, if you have any associated question, feel free to ask.