The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom
Breastfeeding also can benefit mom by:
Reducing her risk of developing osteoporosis
Reducing her breast cancer risk
Reducing her ovarian cancer risk
Producing oxytocin, which helps contract the uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size
Burning calories and using mom’s fat stores for her breast milk
Lowering her chance of developing postpartum depression, since breastfeeding enables pregnancy hormones to decrease slowly, instead of abruptly
Saving money, since breastfeeding is free!
Breastfeeding nutrients
Breast milk contains everything your baby needs to grow and develop. It provides a unique and specific formula of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Some nutritional benefits of breast milk are:
It’s easy to digest for your baby’s immature tummy and intestines.
It contains antibodies that protect against infection and boost immunity.
It has the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein and vitamins for your baby’s development.
It promotes healthy weight gain in infants.
It changes to meet your baby’s nutritional needs as they grow.
It contains substances that naturally soothe your baby.
Most healthcare organizations recommend that babies are exclusively breastfed for at least six months. Once your baby is old enough for solid food, you can introduce foods and continue with breastfeeding for up to two years or longer.