The Benefits Of Breastfeeding

Nature’s perfect food for your baby, on tap and at the right temperature

Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for your newborn and provides protection against a number of diseases. The nutritional composition of breastmilk is a perfect blend of water, protein, carbohydrates and fats, at exactly the right amount required for your baby’s growth and development.

You can choose to nurse your baby, or you can express your milk and feed your baby with a bottle, cup or spoon. A number of moms choose to do both. By expressing your milk, your partner can help with baby’s feeding. Once you return to work after your maternity leave, you can express milk at work and continue to nurse baby at home.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months of age. This advice has remained in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a caution to moms to practice good hygiene when breastfeeding or using a breast-pump.

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after feeding your baby or expressing your milk. If you don’t have access to clean water, you can use an alcohol-based (70%) hand sanitiser. Unless you have symptoms of COVID-19, like shortness of breath, a dry cough and fever, or you test positive for the virus, you don’t have to wear a mask while breastfeeding your baby.

Health Benefits For Mom And Baby

Breastfeeding is beneficial for your postpartum healing, your future health and your baby’s immediate and future health.

For Mom

• Breastfeeding stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin, which helps the uterus contract and return to its pre-pregnancy size. It also helps to reduce postpartum bleeding.
• Breastfeeding can contribute to a healthy weight loss for some moms. Making breastmilk requires additional daily kilojoules (energy from food). This extra energy used can contribute to a gradual weight loss over time, if you eat a well-balanced, healthy diet.
• Breastfeeding has been linked to a reduction in the risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
• Other health benefits are a lower risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis.
• For some moms, breastfeeding delays the start of the first menstrual period after baby’s birth. However, if you do not want to become pregnant now, you must consider alternate birth control methods. You will ovulate about two weeks before you see your first menstrual period after the birth, and you can get pregnant once you ovulate.
• Best of all for mom, breastmilk is free of charge and easy to access. You don’t have to prepare your baby’s bottles, giving you more time to spend with baby.

For Baby

• Your breastmilk passes your antibodies on to your baby. Antibodies help to strengthen your baby’s developing immune system and protect against infection and illness. The antibodies past on are for the viruses and bacteria that you have been exposed to in the past or vaccinated against. For example, if you have a flu shot during pregnancy, the antibodies are past to your baby in your milk and provide protection for up to six months. A breastfed baby is also less likely to pick up bacteria that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. If you express your milk, you must sterilise your breast pump and all feeding equipment to keep your baby safe.
• Breastfeeding helps to reduce your baby’s risk for a number of diseases or infections. These include ear infections, asthma and other respiratory diseases, allergies, eczema and colds and flu.
• Breastfed babies have a lower risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the sudden and unexpected death of a sleeping baby.
• Although more research is needed, breastmilk is thought to lower the risk for obesity and diabetes later in life, and may offer a lower risk for childhood leukaemia.

Perfect Nutrition For Baby

In addition to supplying your baby with important nutrients, breastmilk also contains essential vitamins and minerals. To support your diet, continue taking your prenatal vitamins while breastfeeding.

• Breastmilk satisfies your baby’s thirst and hunger and is easy for baby to digest.
• Breastmilk composition isn’t the same at every feed. It changes through the day and from feed to feed to supply the nutrition your baby needs. Night milk contains more serotonin to help baby sleep.
• The composition also changes as your baby grows, to meet growth demands. Breastmilk promotes a healthy weight gain for your baby.
• Breastmilk contains a number of different enzymes, a type of protein that creates a chemical reaction in the body. Some enzymes aid digestion of the fat and protein in the milk and others provide immune support for the baby.
• Breastmilk promotes a healthy gut and breastfed babies generally have higher amounts of beneficial gut bacteria that promote a healthy digestive system.

Emotional Wellness And Bonding

Breastfeeding can help you bond with your baby. It promotes skin-to-skin contact which helps to build and strengthen the physical and emotional bond between mother and baby.

• During breastfeeding, your brain releases oxytocin and prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast growth and milk production. Oxytocin is also called the bonding hormone and helps to create a strong sense of love between you and your baby. It contributes to a positive wellbeing and can help relieve stress and anxiety.
• According to UNICEF, postnatal depression is less likely in moms who breastfeed.  This has been linked to oxytocin but more research is needed.
• Your baby feels content when he or she is close to you and loves looking at your face and hearing your heartbeat when nursing. Allowing your baby to comfort nurse, where you let him or her suckle at any time, can help to calm and comfort baby.

Breastfeeding may be a challenge initially, but once you and baby get the hang of it, it’s much easier than preparing bottles of formula. Breastmilk is free of charge, right on tap and served at the right temperature when your baby needs it.

Contact your midwife or healthcare provider for support, advice and counselling.

Resources: https://www.unicef.org/; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/; https://www.webmd.com/; https://www.verywellfamily.com/; https://www.heart.org/; https://www.healthline.com/; https://www.cdc.gov/; https://medlineplus.gov/; https://www.todaysparent.com/; https://www.news-medical.net/; https://www.healthychildren.org/; https://patient.info/