3 Amazing Benefits of Breastfeeding that Last Mom & Baby For a Lifetime
Breastfeeding is one of the absolute most valuable gifts we can give our babies. Through milllions of years of evolution, our female bodies have become perfectly adapted to feed our babies.
The act of lactation, which is our ability to nurture our young with breast milk produced from our mammary glands, is common to all mammals.
For most of human history, breastfeeding has been crucial for infant survival. Even in times and places where babies have been fed other first foods, breastfed babies were recognized as healthier and more likely to survive. This truth persist today.
Many studies prove that breastfeeding babies have major health benefits in the short, medium and long terms. And it's why I'm such a huge advocate for breastfeeding our babies and educating us about all of the amazing benefits.
1. Breastfeeding is Optimum Nutrition for Baby
Breastfeeding is the best way to nourish our babies because breastmilk contains the right amounts of important nutrients that are easily digested, absorbed, and used by our baby’s body for optimal growth and development.
Breastmilk contains water, various fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, immune cells, hormones and multiple strains of bacteria. And because breastmilk is also gentle on baby's developing stomach, intestines, and other body system -- this means far fewer digestive, lung, upper respiratory and ear infections.
Perhaps one of the most magical elements of breastmilk is it's ability to adapt and make specific change according to our baby's stage of development. For example, if birth is premature, the mom's milk will adapt for the premature baby, and the composition of milk continues to change as the baby grows.
2. Breastfeeding Supports Baby's Immune System
A breastfed infant recieves a relatively high dose of maternal antibodies: up to 1 gram per day via breastmilk, compared to a 2.5 grams produced daily in the body of an average adult.
That's becasue breastfeeding is part of a complex immunological system that protects our babies from diseases that we as mothers or babies are exposed. When a breastfeeding mother encounters infections in her gut or lung (main route of human infection), she forms the antibodies that protects baby against infections and tranfers it via breastmilk.
Breast milk also contains lactoferrin, oligosaccharides and lymphocytes that enhances the functioning of baby's immune system. Combined they provide antibiotic, immunostimulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, and help block the mucosal attachment of harmful bacteria.
These factors are especially important for newborn babies because their immature immune systems make them very vulnerable to infection.
3. Breastfeeding Boost Pleasure Hormones for Mom and Baby
Breastfeeding offers pleasurable emotional rewards to moms and babies. This is because of the effects of oxytocin, endorphins and prolactin, the mothering hormone. These hormones keeps moms calm, relaxed and lovingly focused on baby. This also explains the relaxation and pleasure that babies and children get from breastfeeding.
In Summary
Breastfeeding truly is a gift of a lifetime! Some of the benefits of breasfeeding will actually last our children an entire lifetime -- that's hella valuable! Through breastfeeding we can definitely promote health and happiness in our families for generations to come.
Here are my gentle herbal supplements that supports your breastfeeding journey.
Love, health, peace,
- Shavonne