Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom and Baby

Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom & Baby

By LaToyia Williams, Case Manager, Healthy Start

It’s not always easy, but breastfeeding can be healthy for both baby and mom.

New parents face many decisions, and a big one is the decision to breastfeed. What are the benefits? What will I need? Knowing a few facts will not only help you feel confident in your decision, it will help you make sure that whatever you decide, it’s best for you and your growing family.

If you do decide to breastfeed there will be plenty of benefits—both physical and emotional. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages exclusive breastfeeding for six months to receive maximum health benefits. They suggest continuing to breastfeed up to the first birthday, even after you start introducing solid foods. Let’s look at 7 benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby.

1. Provides ideal nutrition to your baby. It’s truly incredible: your body produces breast milk that’s specifically made for your baby in all the right proportions. In the first days after birth, your breast milk will be colostrum—a thick, yellow fluid that’s packed with protein, vitamins and minerals. After three to four days of colostrum, your breast milk comes in, allowing you to deliver more nutrients and calories to your growing baby.

2. Decreases your baby’s risk of viruses and infections. Breast milk contains antibodies that can help your baby fight bacteria and viruses. If you’re sick, for example, your body produces antibodies that can help your baby avoid that infection. Breast milk that’s pumped and stored continues delivering those antibodies to your baby even if you’re out for the evening or back at work.

3. Helps with bonding. Whether your baby is bottle-fed or breastfed, there’s no doubt you’ll form a lasting connection. But nursing offers you some additional bonding bonuses—like skin-to-skin contact that reassures and soothes your little one. It also releases oxytocin, known as the “love hormone.” Every time you nurse, your brain produces more of it to help you bond with your baby.

4. Aids in your postpartum recovery. That oxytocin hormone also helps your uterus shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size. In your first days of breastfeeding, you might feel mild contractions while you nurse (don’t worry: they’re not nearly as painful as labor contractions). Oxytocin can also help reduce your uterine bleeding post-birth.

5. Pumping can help support breastfeeding. If you’re having trouble breastfeeding, or when you’re heading back to work, pumping can often help. Pumping after or between feedings can help make sure your milk supply stays high—in theory the more milk you express, the more your body will produce (even if nothing or very little comes out at first), eventually increasing your output. When you go back to work, a pump will be essential to helping you express milk throughout the day.

6. Offers you long-term health perks. Studies show that nursing moms have a lower risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Some even indicate that nursing could lower your risk of osteoporosis because your body absorbs calcium more effectively during lactation.

7. Can protect your baby from certain diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics supports evidence that breastfed babies are more protected against diseases and conditions like diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, ear infections, SIDS, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. If you pump and store your milk, you can provide this possible protection to your baby for longer. Breastfed babies are more likely to turn into well-educated and higher-earning adults, according to a major long-term study in Brazil.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Who can help you with breastfeeding? You can get breastfeeding help from a lot of different people:

Lactation Consultant

You can find a lactation consultant through your health care provider or your hospital. Or go to the International Lactation Consultants Association.

Breastfeeding Peer Counselor

This is a woman who breastfed her own children and wants to help and support mothers who breastfeed. She has training to help women breastfeed, but not as much as a lactation consultant. You can find a peer counselor through your local WIC nutrition program. Or visit womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding or call the National Breastfeeding Helpline at (800) 994-9662.

Breastfeeding Support Groups

This is a group of women who help and support each other with breastfeeding. Ask your provider to help find a group near you. Or contact La Leche League (https://llloftulsa.org).

For additional information, contact LaToyia Williams at 918-382-1275.

Source: “The Benefits of Breastfeeding”, Esther Entin, M.D. The Atlantic 2012, The ALPP practices and guidelines.