Benefits of Breastfeeding

Benefits for Baby

• Nutritional Benefits – breast milk has the right amount of growth factors, hormones, and nutritional qualities that is individually suited for the consumer, your baby. The consistency and makeup of the milk changes to mimic your baby’s sleeping and eating patterns.

• Boosts the Immune System – breast milk provides antibodies which protect your baby from a number of common respiratory and intestinal diseases. Colostrum, your early milk contains living immune cells. Babies that are breast fed have less ear infections, pneumonia, and stomach flu than formula fed babies. Breastfeeding can protect babies from allergies, asthma, eczema, bowel diseases, even cancer.

• Infant Growth & Development – breast fed babies grow at a faster rate early in their first year, then drop off towards the end of the year. Breast fed babies have a lower risk of obesity and can have a higher IQ. Breast milk has special ingredients such as DHA and AA which benefit brain and retinal development.

• Emotional Benefits – breast fed babies get more skin to skin contact with their mothers, which is highly beneficial for their emotional growth. More skin to skin contact with mom promotes a quicker bond and leads to a happier and more secure baby.

Benefits for Mom

• Healthier Babies – how is this a benefit for mom? Less medical bills and a happy, easy-going baby to take care of.

• Stimulation of Oxytocin – breastfeeding after delivery stimulates the release of the oxytocin hormone which causes mini contractions of your uterus, protecting you from postpartum hemorrhage.

• Lack of Menstruation – you won’t get your period for all the months you are breastfeeding exclusively.

• Birth Control – if you are breastfeeding regularly and exclusively, you are 99% protected from pregnancy. You must be nursing day and night to have this benefit. This usually lasts about 6 months.

• Lose Inches – most breastfeeding moms report a rapid weight loss within the first few months after delivery. Milk production burns 200-500 calories per day, so many moms attain their pre-baby weight without even trying!

• Decreased Risk of Cancer – breastfeeding for at least 6 months is shown to decrease your risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers.

• Emotional Benefits – skin to skin contact with your baby and the pleasures of nursing your baby make it all worth it

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