Quantcast
Channel: Pinay Mom » Mother
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 10

Unknown Benefits of BreastFeeding

0
0

The first seven days of August is known as World BreastFeeding Week. It’s being celebrated from August 1-7 every year in more than 170 countries. A lot have have been post about the benefits of breastfeeding but below, I would like to share to you the unknown ( or not so popular) but practical benefits of this nature’s gift to moms and their new born babies.

When it comes to nutrition, the best first food for babies is nothing but breast milk. Experts agree that babies should be breast-fed for six to 12 months. mother-baby-breastfeeding-programThe only acceptable alternative to breast milk is infant formula however it should be avoided, if possible. A lot of hospitals, not only in the Philippines but also around the world supports  the “Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BHFI). A program that creates the best possible environment for successful breastfeeding.

Solid foods can be introduced and supplement the nutrition needs when the baby is between 4 to 6 months old, but a baby should drink breast milk or formula, not cow’s milk, for a full year. The reason is that, cow’s milk contains a different type of protein than breast milk. Cow’s milk is obviously good for calves, but human infants can have difficulty digesting it.  Experts agree that bottle-fed infants tend to be fatter than breast-fed infants, but not necessarily healthier.

Here are the Unknown Benefits of Breastfeeding

  1. No allergic reactions. There’s no need to look for the correct brand and no need to follow the recommendation of your favorite actors or actresses. Human milk contains at least 200 ingredients not found in formula. No babies are allergic to their mother’s milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. If she eliminates it from her diet, the problem resolves itself.
  2. Promotes healthy teeth and strong jaw. Sucking at the breast promotes good jaw development as well. It’s harder work to get milk out of a breast than a bottle, and the exercise strengthens the jaws and encourages the growth of straight, healthy teeth.  First time mother should have enough patience in feeding her newly born baby, since the baby doesn’t have much knowledge in sucking. But in just few days or even hours, the baby’s instinct to suck will come naturally. The baby at the breast also can control the flow of milk by sucking and stopping. With a bottle, the baby must constantly suck or react to the pressure of the nipple placed in the mouth.
  3. Easy digestion.  Initially, a breast-fed baby will need to be fed 8-12 times in a 24-hour period, especially since both baby and mother are getting used to the process. Breast milk is more quickly digested than formula, which is another reason why more frequent feeding is necessary.
  4. More milk from  mom, more immunities to baby. Another reason for the constant suckling at the breast is to stimulate the mammary glands to produce more milk for the baby’s growing appetite. But the extra time spent feeding the baby that first year is well worth it as breast milk passes along the mother’s immunities and delivers the highest-quality nutrition for a developing baby.
  5.  Breastfeeding saves money. Aside from it’s free, breastfeeding also provides savings on health care cost since it ensures good health to the baby.
  6. Sexier Mom. Mothers who breastfeed for at least three months lose more weight and have less risk of suffering post-natal depression. Get into breastfeeding right away because breastfeeding helps the uterus to shrink to its pre-pregnancy state and reduces the amount of blood lost after delivery.
  7. Environmental friendly.  Breastfed baby cuts down on our pollution and garbage disposal problems since there’s no tin, paper, plastic and other waste to dispose.

Parents want to provide their babies the very best. I’m sure you will agree that parents take pride in knowing they are able to give their babies the very best through breastfeeding.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 10

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images