We all know that there are a lot of benefits of breastfeeding.
Breast milk is especially created by the body of the mother to meet the nutritional needs of the baby. It is also the best thing you could offer your baby during the first six months of his or her life.
Protection against illnesses and nursing benefits
According to numerous studies conducted in this field breast milk protects the babies against stomach viruses, ear infections, lower respiratory illnesses, and also meningitis. Even if these infections occur, they are less severe. You can offer the most protection through exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months.
According to one of the studies regarding the good things about nursing shows that the breastfed babies have 20% less chances of dying between the age of 28 days and one year that the children who weren’t breastfed. The longer the breastfeeding goes on, the lower the risks will be.
Agents and the breastfeeding advantages
The main agent of breast milk is known as secretory immunoglobulin that is found in large concentrations in colostrum. This is the first milk that the body of women produces. The substance protects the baby from germs by forming a layer on the baby’s mucus membranes in the nose, intestines and throat.
Special tailoring
The good thing about breastfeeding is that milk is especially tailored to meet the needs of the baby. The body of the mother responds to the pathogens and creates the breast milk accordingly. This way the baby will be protected against whatever pathogens he or she is exposed to.
The good news about the breastfeeding benefits is that they are present even after you stop breastfeeding. According to studies, the babies who were breastfed are protected against different kinds of childhood cancers. The doctors don’t really know why this happens, but it looks like the antibodies found in the milk boost the immune system of the baby.
It seems like the benefits of nursing also protects children against health issues that occur only later in life, such as diabetes, inflammatory diseases and high cholesterol. Furthermore, if the preemies receive breast milk as babies, they are less likely to be affected by high blood pressure in their teenage years.
No breast milk
If the babies don’t get breast milk, they don’t get to experience the advantages of nursing. The studies in this field show a connection with the later appearance of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. For sure this is something you would like to avoid if you can.
Stress and postpartum depression
There are some nursing advantages for women as well. It looks like the women who don’t breastfeed or who stop breastfeeding soon are more likely to be affected by postpartum depression. Usually women feel relaxed when they are nursing because the activity triggers an oxytocin release. This can result in lower blood pressure.
Now you know more about the advantages of breastfeeding and you can understand why it is so important for both the new mothers and the babies.
