Breast is Best!
Giving birth to a new life is an important decision and means lots of responsibilities on mother's part. The American Academy of Pediatrics recognizes that breastfeeding is important for optimal infant and child health and development. As parents you want to make the best choice you can in everything you do for your children. And breastfeeding is the natural choice.
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from a woman's breasts, not from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is possible for most mothers to nourish their infant by breastfeeding for the first six months, if not longer, without the supplement of infant formula milk or solid food. Breastfeeding is the beginning of special loving bond between mother and baby. Breast milk is an irreplaceable gift a mother can give to her baby.
Health benefits of Breastfeeding to Baby
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Health benefits of Breastfeeding to Mother
- Reduced risk of breast, ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers
- Reduced risk of anemia.
- Helps the mother's body return to its pre-pregnancy state faster - promotes weight loss 1/2 of calories needed to manufacture milk is pulled from fat stores can burn from 500 - 1,500 calories per day.
- Helps delay return of fertility and to space subsequent pregnancies.
- Helps the uterus contract after birth to control postpartum bleeding.
- Breastfeeding is usually easy and convenient. Breastfed babies are very portable and you have instant, pre-warmed, ready-to-serve food wherever you go.
Nutritional Facts of Breast milk.
- Breast milk contains all the nutrients your baby needs for at least the first six months of his life and continues to be the most important part of his diet throughout the first year, supplying half or more of his nutrients till his first birthday and up to one third to his second birthday.
- The colostrum your baby receives in the first few days, and the breast milk that follows, contain antibodies that provide resistance to infection.
- The unique combination of fatty acids and other components in breast milk contribute to optimal brain development, so lack of these in artificially-fed babies may result in lower intelligence.
Important points to note
- Most babies have a strong need to suck when they are first born, so you can start breastfeeding straight away if you are both well.
- The more milk your baby takes from the breast, the more milk your breast will make.
- To establish a good milk supply let your baby feed frequently, whenever he wakes or seems hungry. Allow him to finish the first breast before offering the second side.
- Breast milk is easily digested. It is normal for young babies to feed frequently, including night feeds. This helps your supply too.
- Babies breastfeed for comfort and closeness as well as to satisfy their hunger and thirst.
- There is no need to avoid any specific foods while you are breastfeeding. There are no magic foods that increase the milk supply - a sensible, well-balanced diet is the key.
- Many women successfully combine breastfeeding and work outside the home.
- As your baby grows, your breast milk changes to meet his developing needs - your breast milk is always the right food for your baby.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) joins other organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) in recommending breastfeeding as the best part of their diet for babies.
Specifically, the AAP says babies should be breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months and that breastfeeding should continue until 12 months (and beyond) if both the mother and baby are willing. Nursing can be a wonderful experience for both mother and baby. It provides ideal nourishment and a special bonding experience that many nursing mothers cherish.
(Sources: womenshealth.gov, breastfeeding.asn.au, aap.org)
