Benefits of Breast Feeding

Feeding a child with breast milk, better known as breast feeding is both good for mother and the baby’s health. It is an ideal beginning for a mother and an infant to establish and nurture their bond.

Babies have a sucking reflex so it becomes very easy for them to suck and swallow the milk. Babies can be fed for 6 months or more without solid food. Mother’s milk in initial stages is known as Colostrum. It is packed with antibodies which are beneficial for the new born babies as they are extremely delicate and susceptible to diseases.

It also helps in strengthening the Intestines and the Respiratory system of the baby. Mother’s milk contains the right amount of fat, sugar and proteins which is helpful in baby’s growth and development. Studies have shown that breast feeding contributes to the Brain development of the baby. Breast feeding reduces the risk of contracting Urinary tract infections, diarrheal infections and Upper respiratory infections in infants.

The exclusive breast feeding for 4 months reduces risk of Atropy which is an allergic disease. Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC), an acute inflammatory disease of intestines, seen mainly in premature babies can also be curbed by breast feeding.Breast feeding benefits mother as well. By regular breast feeding women develop a lesser risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.

It helps in stabilizing maternal Endometriosis and reduces the risk of post-partum bleeding.It controls sugar levels in diabetic mothers. Breast feeding also helps the mother to lose weight accumulated during pregnancy, it burns 500 calories. Milk production can be maintained by breast feeding the baby every 2-3 hours. Sometimes it so happens that a mother cannot breast feed, so for that she can express milk either by manual massage or a breast pump into a bottle or storage bags. Breast milk can be kept at room temperature for up to 10 hours; can be refrigerated for 4-6 days and frozen for 4-6 months.