Having a baby comes with many big decisions and new experiences. There is an endless amount of information to take in, opinions to form, and plans to make. One of the biggest decisions all new parents will need to make is whether to breastfeed their baby.
New moms may be undecided about breastfeeding due to various factors such as social norms, lack of knowledge, employment or childcare concerns, lactation problems, and more. However, there are many benefits to breastfeeding for both the new baby.
What do you need to know about Breastmilk?
Breast milk contains a unique and specific combination of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and everything else a baby needs to grow and thrive. It’s known as a “superfood for babies”. It contains the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein and vitamins that a baby needs for proper development and its composition changes over time to continue to meet the baby’s needs.
Broken down, breast milk contains:
- Carbohydrates which support a healthy balance of bacteria in the baby’s stomach
- Fats that help the baby’s brain and nervous system develop
- Proteins, like lactoferrin and secretory IgA, that protect babies from infections
- Vitamins that support the baby’s growth
- White blood cells that help fight infection
On top of these vital benefits, breast milk is also easy for babies’ immature tummies and intestines to digest and contains antibodies that protect against infection and boost immunity. It also helps promote healthy weight gain and contains substances that naturally soothe the baby.
Due to its “superfood” qualities and other benefits, breastfeeding has been recommended by several prominent organizations of health professionals. The current recommendation is to exclusively breastfeed for at least six months and introduce solid foods while continuing to breastfeed after six months and until at least 12 months.
Benefits for Baby
Apart from the benefits listed above, breastfeeding comes with many other benefits for babies that they won’t get from canned formulas.
Breastfeeding can lower the risk of:
- Diarrhea, vomiting and preterm necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)
- Respiratory infections like pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and whooping cough
- Ear infections
- Bacterial meningitis
- Asthma
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and infant mortality
- Childhood obesity
- Eczema
- Type 2 diabetes
- Leukemia (in childhood)
- Cavities and future orthodontic problems for babies less than one year of age
- Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
This can lead to lower hospitalization rates and better overall health for breastfed infants.
Breastfeeding benefits by month:
- At least 3 months – lowers the baby’s risk of stomach flu, diarrhea, ear infections, asthma and eczema in their first year of life.
- At least 4 months – lowers the baby’s risk of hospitalization from RSV and other lower respiratory tract infections.
- At least 6 month – lowers the baby’s risk of childhood cancer.
Extending breastfeeding to up to 2 years of age and beyond benefits baby’s development and growth and can also benefit mom by lowering the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.
Benefits for Mom
Breastfeeding has many benefits for moms too. Breastfeeding for longer duration (6 months or longer) is associated with better maternal outcomes. Some of the physical benefits include a lowered risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and thyroid cancer. There is also a lowered risk of osteoporosis, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Breastfeeding can aid in a quicker recovery from childbirth. It produces oxytocin, a hormone that helps the uterus contract after delivery, returning it to its normal size quicker and reducing the amount of vaginal bleeding experienced after delivery.
Breastfeeding also burns calories, aiding some moms in losing weight after pregnancy. Not everyone loses weight from breastfeeding and other factors such as calorie consumption, physical activity, and sleep quality contribute to weight loss and gain.
Breastfeeding can offer benefits to the relationship with baby:
- Increased physical and emotional bonding
- Breastfeeding is a special way for moms to connect with their baby. Research has found that breastfeeding can help reduce social and behavioral problems in children and adults. While many women claim they breastfeed due to the health advantages, many also have a desire to experience the bonding and closeness with their baby that comes with breastfeeding.
- Establishing trust
- While breastfeeding, parents can learn to pick up on infant’s cues creating an natural way to build trust between the baby and caregiver, helping shape the baby’s early behavior.
Other benefits for breastfeeding moms include:
- Convenience
- Breastmilk is available to mom and baby nearly anywhere without needing to prepare and bring along supplies such as formula and bottles.
- Low cost
- Breastfeeding can have some initial costs such as purchasing nursing bras and investing in nipple cream, but in the long run, it is much more affordable than formula which can cost up to $10 per day. A recent study found that if 90% of U.S. families breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months of an infant’s life, the United States would save $13 billion annually in reduced direct and indirect medical costs and the cost of premature death.
- Lower risk of post-partum depression
- As many as 13% of mothers may experience post-partum depression after giving birth. Post-partum depression poses risks to not only the mother’s health but also can cause the mother to be unable to fully care for all of her child’s needs. Studies have not been conclusive to the correlation, but it has been found that mothers who have breastfed partially or for longer durations were less likely to experience post-partum depression.
What if mom can’t breastfeed?
If breastfeeding is not an option, that is completely okay. Medical conditions of either mom or baby, prior surgeries or even difficult work schedules or other constraints can make breastfeeding not possible or hard to manage. Unfortunately, this is the case for many women. If mom is unable to breastfeed at all, it is okay. It can understandably be upsetting, especially to mom, but it is likely out of her control and she should not be faulted in any way. Speak with a pediatrician about the best formula for the baby’s needs and make sure mom is supported while learning how to best feed her baby.
Some moms can breastfeed but experience low milk supply. This is also completely fine. It is recommended that mom breastfeeds what she can and supplements with formula. If mom is experiencing low milk supply, speak with a lactation consultant about overcoming challenges that may cause a family to choose to stop breastfeeding.
If breastfeeding is possible for both mom and baby, it is the best way to nurture and promote a newborn’s growth and development. The many benefits should be seriously considered when deciding between breastfeeding and formula. If the mom is able, it is highly recommended to breastfeed for at least the first 6 months of a baby’s life to encourage the best health outcomes possible for both the mom and the baby.
Sources
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15274-benefits-of-breastfeeding
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK52687/
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/breastfeeding/Pages/Why-Breastfeed.aspx
