Benefits of breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the most beneficial way of feeding your baby. It provides all the essential nutrients your baby needs for normal growth, development and protection from diseases. It is best for the baby’s and the mother’s health.
Benefits for the baby:
- Breast milk is high in nutrients and meets all the baby’s nutritional needs for the first six months.
- It helps protect babies from tummy upsets, ear and chest infections
- It helps your baby to fight infection and develop good bacteria in her digestive system. Baby gets all the nutrition they need from your milk to grow well, while also being protected from harmful bacteria.
- Breast milk changes with time so as to meet your baby’s changing nutritional, immunological and developmental needs.
- Breastfeeding your baby provides an emotional contact with your baby. Through breastfeeding you give a great start to your baby!
- Breastfeeding lowers the risk of your baby being obese or overweight thus reducing the risk of developing medical conditions such as diabetes.
- It is easier for your baby to digest breast milk
- Needs no preparation and its free!!!
Benefits for the mother:
- Breastfeeding helps to accelerate weight loss and return to the pre-pregnancy weight.
- It helps to reduce bleeding after birth and helps your uterus to return to its pre-pregnant state
- Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of pre-menopausal breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers.
- Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
Tips to breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding does not come naturally to all mothers. Ask for guidance when required.
- Let your baby decide when to slide off. Some babies like to pause between feeds and afterwards you can switch to the other breast
- Latching is a very important part of feeding. Your baby needs to latch on well to feed effectively and prevent you from getting sore.
- Do not be worried about running out of milk. The more your baby suckles and feeds, the more milk you produce
- A common question most first time mothers have is ‘is my baby getting enough milk’?
The best sign of a well-fed baby is one who is satisfied after a feed, has plenty of wet nappies and is growing well.
Dr. Sejal Devendra Surti
Specialist Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Aster Hospital
