5 Reasons why breastfeeding is best for yourself and your baby.

5 Reasons why breastfeeding is best for yourself and your baby.

By Ivanna Sanchotena, DN, CLEC Degreed nutritionist, Certified Lactation Education Counselor

For your baby:

1. Breastmilk has antibodies that help protect your baby from colds, flu, and other illnesses. Mothers are encouraged to breastfeed if they have a cold or flu because their bodies are making antibodies passed through their breastmilk to their baby, which will help them not become sick in the future.

2. Breastmilk is made specifically for your baby and has all the nutrients that your baby needs.

3. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing obesity. It is hard to overfeed a baby fed directly from the breast. Once your baby is full, they will start sucking lightly, which will not produce milk. When being fed by a bottle, babies can be easily overfed because milk is constantly released into their mouths and can be sucked out easily.

4. Mother’s milk is easier to digest and reduces constipation and diarrhea.

Breastmilk is a lot easier on your baby’s stomach. Not only this, but their poop will not be smelly until they are introduced to solids.

5. Breastfeeding introduces babies to a wider variety of flavors. The taste of breastmilk will change with the foods you eat. This helps your baby to avoid becoming a picky eater in the future.

For yourself:

1. Breastfeeding lowers your risk for breast cancer and other female related cancers.

2. Breastfeeding can help reduce your risk of getting postpartum depression.

3. Breastfeeding can help you lose weight after giving birth. When you are breastfeeding, you are burning around 200-500 calories a day. The more milk you produce, the more calories you are burning. Remember to add extra calories to your diet to keep up with the demand.

4. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, you will not get your period. Once you give birth, you are very fertile. If you are exclusively breastfeeding this will work as a natural birth control, and you will not get your period until 6 months - 2 years. (Depending on your body and breastfeeding).

5. Breastfeeding will help your uterus return to normal quicker.