Why Breast Feeding Is Important For You And Your BabyAugust 02, 2018

It is a known fact that humans are mammals.i.e; they feed their new borns from their mammary glands. In simple words, they breast feed. The World Health Organization is observing Aug 1, 2018 to Aug 8, 2018 as World Breastfeeding Week. 
Breast milk, especially the first milk after birth, colostrums, is rich in nutrients, fats and immunity building and antibodies that help the baby to fight against viruses and bacteria. Newborns have very immature and small digestive systems, and colostrum delivers its nutrients in a very concentrated low-volume form. It is for this reason that breast milk is also known as baby’s first vaccine. Ideally new borns should be breast fed within an hour of birth. Establishing exclusive breastfeeding – feeding infants nothing but breastmilk for the first six months of life — helps young children grow, preventing under nutrition, promoting brain development, and reducing the risk that children will become overweight. Breastfeeding is indeed the foundation for life and gives growing children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow and develop to their full potential.
Many new mothers, especially first time mothers find breast feeding daunting and frustrating. While moms may have supply issues while sometimes babies, even a week after birth are yet to learn to latch. Mothers need to calm down and be patient. When the benefits of breastfeeding are taken into account, there is no doubt that breast feeding wins hands down.

Benefits for the baby

1. Ideal holistic growth: Breast milk is a perfect source of vitamins, protein, fat and much more which is necessary for the overall physical and mental growth of a newborn.
2. Better Cognitive development: There are studies which suggest that the babies who are exclusively breastfed have a better IQ level and cognitive development as compared to babies who are not.
3. Provides robust immunity: The first milk, colostrum, contains immunoglobulin IgA which is required to provide a protective layer against infectious organisms, hence protecting babies from infectious diseases. It helps in developing a better immune system in babies.
4. Reduced Risk of Infections: The risk of ear infections, pneumonia, colds and viruses are reduced among breastfed babies and all this is attributed to the Immunity building power of breast milk.
5. Less vulnerable to gastrointestinal issues: Breast milk is easier for babies to digest as it is lighter and it’s more likely to prevent the development of indigestion and colic. It also takes care of other gastrointestinal issues like diarrhoea and stomach infections which are quite common in babies.
6. Long-term protection: Breast milk gives a long-lived protection to babies as they grow older. It reduces the risk of developing chronic conditions, such as type I diabetes, obesity, celiac disease etc.
7. Strengthens Mother and Baby Bond: Most importantly it creates an eternal bond between the baby and the mother. The skin to skin contact gives babies a sense of security and is a pure blissful feeling to a mother which is beyond words to describe.

Benefits for mother

A mother equally benefits by breastfeeding her baby in every sense. Let’s have a look at this too.

1. A great calorie burner: It is said that Breast milk contains 20 calories per feeding (30 ml). So just imagine if you feed your baby 20 times a day, that's 400 calories clearly swept out of your body. So, breastfeeding moms have a better chance to return to their pre-pregnancy weight sooner than the others.
2. Better healing post delivery:  Breastfeeding helps contract the uterus faster and return to its normal size more quickly.
3. Reduced risk of cancer: It’s found that breastfeeding mothers are at a lower risk of pre menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer, a life threatening disease.
4. A menstruation vacation: Exclusively breastfeeding your baby delays ovulation, which means delayed periods and a longer break from Menstruation. 
5. It's Cost-free: Infant formula, though the next best option to breastfeeding, is an expensive affair and not all can afford it as it sweeps off your bank balance at an enormous rate.
6. It’s convenient: Simply pull up your shirt and nurse. Breast milk is available round the clock, ready to drink, no side effects  and always at the right temperature.
Happy Breastfeeding!!