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Saturday, 19 of May of 2012

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Advantages of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is better started right after birth. The colostrum – the first milk a woman’s body produces – has secretory IgA or immunoglobulin A which is the main immune factor that guards against invading germs. This milk forms a protective layer on the baby’s mucous membranes in his nose, throat, and intestines.

The colostrum is only the first of the wonders of breastfeeding. Below are other advantages of breastfeeding.

For babies:

  • Protection Against Infection – Breast milk offers a special kind of protection to babies, especially the premature babies. Babies with very low birth weight nourished by breast milk had fewer serious blood infections and meningitis than those who weren’t. Breastfed babies have less incidence of and/or less pronounced symptoms of allergies, diarrhea, ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and vomiting.
  • Protection Against Illnesses – Breastfeeding decreases the number of infant illnesses and improving toddler health. Studies have shown that breastfeeding can lower a baby’s risk of developing leukemia – acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid. The antibodies in breast milk are thought to boost a baby’s immune system.
  • Breastfeeding for more than 6 months appears to reduce the risk of a child developing type juvenile diabetes. It is theorized that breast milk’s immune factors play a role. Breastfeeding may also protect your child from developing inflammatory bowel disease later on. Researchers have documented a link between development of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and a lack of breastfeeding in infancy.
  • Protection From Allergies – Breastfeeding for 6 months or more reduces your child’s risk of developing food or respiratory allergies, lasting well into adolescence, even. Babies with a family history of allergies had a lower risk of developing eczema than formula-fed infants. Asthma development by age 6 is reduced when an infant was breastfed for at least the first 4 months after birth.
  • Enhances Development and Intelligence – Babies breastfed for 6 months have a huge mental advantage – IQ levels are an average of 8 points higher in children who were breastfed than those who weren’t. Experts state that the emotional bonding that takes place during breastfeeding probably contributes to the increase, but the fatty acids in breast milk may play the major role in the baby’s brain development.

For mothers:

  • Delays fertility – Frequently breastfeeding mothers remain amennorhoeic longer than infrequent nursing mothers – the former do not resume menstruation as promptly.
  • Reduces the risk of cancer – The longer women breastfeed, the more they are protected against certain types of cancer, like breast and ovarian cancer. Nursing for at least a year has the most protective effect against breast cancer – structural changes in breast tissue caused by breastfeeding, and lactation’s suppression of estrogen production in the body play roles not only in breast but also in ovarian cancer.
  • Helps lose weight – Breastfeeding burns calories – approximately 20 calories to produce an ounce of milk.
  • Lowers stress levels and reduces postpartum bleeding – Oxytocin, a hormone that promotes nurturing and relaxation, is released during nursing. It also helps contract the uterus back to normal size.
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