By Ivanna Sanchotena, DN, CLEC
Degreed nutritionist, Certified Lactation Education Counselor
5 reasons why breastfeeding is best for your baby.
- 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.
- Breastmilk is made specifically for your baby and has all the nutrients that your baby needs.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The taste of breastmilk will change with the foods you eat. This helps your baby to avoid becoming a picky eater in the future.
5 reasons why breastfeeding is best for yourself.
- Breastfeeding lowers your risk for breast cancer and other female related cancers.
- Breastfeeding can help reduce your risk of getting postpartum depression.
- 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.
- 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).
- Breastfeeding will help your uterus return to normal quicker
