Why 81 Percent of Mothers Breastfeed (And You Should, Too!)

Breastfeeding, also known as nursing, is beneficial for both mothers and infants. If you are lucky enough to be a mom, experts recommend breastfeeding for the first six months of your baby’s life (at a minimum). The longer you nurse without giving formula, the more profound and long-lasting the benefits.

How does breastfeeding benefit my baby? 

Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for newborns. It has an almost perfect combination of vitamins, protein, and fat — all of which your baby needs to grow strong and healthy. Unlike most formulated products, the milk from a mother’s breasts contains natural antibodies that help your baby fight viruses, bacteria, allergies, and respiratory conditions such as asthma. Further, babies usually digest breast milk faster than formula, which helps prevent constipation and gas. Regularly breastfed babies also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the pediatrician.

Some studies link breastfeeding to higher IQ scores in later childhood. What’s more, breastfed infants are more likely to gain a healthy amount of weight as they grow, meaning they are less prone to obesity. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says breastfeeding also plays a vital role in preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). It is likewise thought to reduce a child’s risk of diabetes and certain cancers, although further research is necessary to support the latter.

How does breastfeeding benefit me as a mother?

If you are wondering how some moms can drop the pregnancy weight only months after giving birth, it is because breastfeeding helps burn calories. As a matter of fact, nursing moms can burn approximately 850 calories per day. The act also releases the hormone oxytocin, which may lessen uterine bleeding after birth and help restore the pre-pregnancy size of your uterus. Breastfeeding may also lower your risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and osteoporosis.

What if I don’t want to breastfeed?

While breastfeeding presents many benefits to both mother and child, there are health consequences if you feed with instant formula instead.

The potential risks for babies include:

• Lower immunity to infections and chronic diseases
• Diarrhea or more frequent stomach aches and gut problems
• Obesity
• Dome childhood cancers
• Cot death or crib death (SIDS)

For mothers, the possible health risks are:

• Bleeding after childbirth
• Reduced bone density and quality (osteoporosis)
• Elevated levels of glucose in the blood (diabetes)
• Development of cancers, particularly in the breast and ovaries

Another downside of feeding with formula includes the risk of contamination since instant milk manufacturing occurs in factories. Contamination is also possible from home, as parents could easily use an unsterilized water source or mix the formula incorrectly.

Using formula will also result in additional costs. On average, parents spend $1,800 a year on formulated milk alone. Moreover, not breastfeeding can lead to increased health care costs with more visits to the doctor, as well as increased absences at work as parents need time off to care for sick children.

A Beautiful Reason to Breastfeed Your Child

The physical closeness, skin-to-skin touch, eye contact, and exchange of smiles occurring while nursing can help strengthen your bond with your baby. You are doing something amazing, and as your child grows, you will realize that it was all worth it.