Benefits of breastfeeding: Breastmilk is Packed with Health

Breastfeeding is recommended to new mothers everywhere. The benefits of breastfeeding to mothers and their infants are enormous. That is why several reasons are cited to get you to breastfeed your baby, so you can watch a healthy and laughing baby make his or her way to growth.

Human Milk is Packed with Nutrition

Human milk is the best food for babies because it contains the right amount of nutrients, in the right proportions, for the growing baby. There are benefits of breastfeeding containing unique components like lactoferrin which provides optimal absorption of iron and protects the gut from harmful bacteria; lipases which assist in digestion of fats; and special growth factors and hormones which contribute to optimal growth and development. Mother's own milk changes during a feeding from thirst-quenching to hunger-satisfying, and comes in a variety of flavors as mother's diet varies. The milk's composition changes as the baby grows to meet the baby's changing nutritional needs, that is why it is known as a living, biological fluid. Breastmilk serves as the nutritional model for artificial baby milks, but formula milk cannot match its benefits.

Human Milk Strengthens Immunity

A baby's first immunization is human milk, which, besides providing antibodies which protect the baby from many common respiratory and intestinal diseases, also contains living immune cells. An ingredient called colostrum is packed with components which increase immunity and protect the newborn's intestines, and is a direct benefit of breastfeeding. Formula-fed babies have higher rates of middle ear infections, pneumonia, and cases of gastroenteritis (stomach flu). If you breastfeed your infant, you also provide him protection from developing immune system cancers such as lymphoma, bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and celiac sprue, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, all of which are related to immune system function. In all these cases, the baby begins to benefit immediately, and benefit more as the duration of breastfeeding increases.

Babies belonging to families with a tendency to allergic diseases particularly benefit from breastfeeding. Pure breastfeeding, especially if it continues for at least six months, provides protection against allergies, asthma, and eczema.

Human Milk Contributes to Infant Growth

World Health Organization growth charts show that breastfed infants grow differently from formula fed babies. Breastfed infants grow faster in the beginning, then slow down as they approach their first birthday. Babies who are artificially fed might go on to have a higher risk of obesity as adults.

Research has proven that among the benefits of breastfeeding is listed optimal brain development. While behavioral aspects play an important role in this, the milk is important, too. A study of premature babies who were tube-fed breast milk or artificial milk, but were never breastfed directly, showed that the babies who received no breast milk had an IQ on average than those who received breast milk. Human milk has special ingredients like DHA (docosohexaenoic acid) and AA (arachidonic acid) which contribute to brain and retinal development. Most conducive to learning is the "quiet alert" state that all breastfed babies tend to spend a lot of their time in.

Breastfeeding is Itself Beneficial

Besides the known benefits of human milk, the very act of breastfeeding is believed to be beneficial. Breastfeeding contributes to oral development with bottle-fed babies having a higher risk of baby bottle tooth decay, as well. Close skin-to-skin contact with mother provides the maximum benefits of nurturing and an almost automatic close emotional attachment. Suckling at breast helps in hand-to-eye coordination, especially with regular "side-switching."

Even in the rare cases when mother cannot produce enough milk, or for adopted babies, supplemental systems of breastfeeding can allow mother and baby to enjoy the benefits of breastfeeding. Packed with nutrients and a recommended feed for babies everywhere, breastfeeding is universally advised to mothers.