Nothing can replace breast milk. It is the gold standard for your baby’s nutrition.
But mommy, did you know that breastfeeding benefits you and your baby? Yes! It’s a give and take relationship at its best. While your baby is busy sucking your wondrous breastmilk, something amazing is also going on with you!
For Babies
Your milk provides the many nutrition like protein, calcium, fat, vitamin A, and other nutrients that your baby needs even before he learns to swallow solid food. Milk also boosts their immune system that shoo away hosts of illnesses such as ear infections, upper respiratory infections and more. Studies also show that your baby’s brain development is optimized. Robin Elise Weiss said that babies who nurse off of both breasts are put into different positions, and have the chance to look and reach in different directions which exercise the baby's reach and mind.
For Mommies
It makes moms healthier, too! Moms who breastfeed are less likely to have breast cancer and reduced risk of ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer. As an all -around, always on-the-go mom that you are, you have a looot of things to do! It's easy to get caught up in work, chores, and family matters. Breastfeeding is a blessing-in-disguise to get the chance to sit down and calm down with your little one. Also, breastfeeding may delay menstruation for a year or more because it causes the release of prolactin, which keeps estrogen and progesterone at bay so ovulation isn’t actuated.
For babies and mommies
Breastfeeding is a chance for mom and baby to connect, bond, and be literally close to each other!
Extended breastfeeding
Now, let’s echo the famous line “breastfeeding is best for babies up to 3 years” Yes! Extended breastfeeding is good for you and your baby, too. Even though your child gets most of his nutrition from solid food, breast milk still provides calories, growth hormones, valuable immunity, vitamins, and enzymes. The composition of your breast milk will continue to change to meet the nutritional needs of your child. Your breast milk is tailor fitted to your baby! There's no known age at which breast milk is considered to become nutritionally insignificant. Doctor Sears also mentioned that if it's working for you and your child, and your mothering instinct tells you it's right—it's right!
But of course, extended breastfeeding does take some planning. You may check out other articles that feature extended breastfeeding planning.
