8 Advantages of Breastfeeding for Both Baby and Mom

Breastfeeding is an activity to feed the baby with breast milk. It is one of the things recommended by health experts, considering that breastfeeding has many benefits for mothers and babies. 

If you want to know what are the advantages of breastfeeding for mothers and babies, you can check the following explanation. 

Advantages of Breastfeeding for Both Baby and Mom

1. Provides Nutrition for The Baby 

Breastfeeding activities are highly recommended by mothers and should be done exclusively in the first 6 months. Mothers can also breastfeed their babies shortly after delivery. 

Breast milk produced after a woman giving birth. It contains a yellow liquid called colostrum, a substance that is rich in nutrients for babies. 

Colostrum contains very high protein and low sugar so it is very good for the growth and development of newborns. 

In addition, colostrum is also useful for helping the development of the baby's digestive tract so that the baby can absorb maximum nutrients and grow well. 

2. Prevents Infection

Breast milk contains antimicrobial properties similar with the health benefits of curcumin that can prevent bacterial and viral infections. In addition, breast milk is also rich in antibodies that can strengthen the baby's immune system. In this case, colostrum also plays an important role where it contains immunoglobulin A or IgA. 

This antibody plays a role in increasing the immune system. IgA can protect the baby's body from disease and layer the baby's organs that are not yet fully developed. 

Several studies have shown that babies who are not breastfed are more prone to pneumonia, infection, and diarrhea.

3. Reduces The Risk of Several Diseases 

Exclusive breastfeeding means the baby only consumes breast milk for 6 months. By doing exclusive breastfeeding, mothers can keep babies from disease. 

Just like the health benefits of apple juice, breast milk not only reducing the risk of infection, but exclusive breastfeeding can also prevent the growth of diseases such as diabetes, allergies, childhood leukemia, bowel disease, sudden infant death syndrome, and other dangerous diseases. 

4. Promotes Healthy Weight 

A healthy baby certainly has a normal weight. Breastfeeding has been shown to promote healthy weight growth and reduce the risk of obesity as children grow older. 

This is evidenced in a 4-month study in which children who received breastfeeding had a lower risk of developing childhood obesity. 

Babies who get breast milk also have higher levels of Leptin in their bodies, Leptin itself is a hormone that induces satiety and plays a role in fat storage. 

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5. Makes The Baby Smarter

If you want to have a smarter child you should consider breastfeeding your child from an early age. This advantage of breastfeeding certainly should not be missed by mothers. 

Several studies claim that there are differences in brain development between children who are breastfed and those who are formula-fed. 

Further studies suggest that babies who get breast milk have higher intelligence and have lower levels of learning problems than those who consume formula milk.

6. Reduces The Risk of Depression

Not only beneficial for babies, but breastfeeding also has benefits for mothers. Based on research in 2012, mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of experiencing postpartum depression, or depression that occurs after giving birth, than mothers who do not breastfeed. 

Conversely, mothers who experience postpartum depression also usually experience problems while breastfeeding. 

Depression after giving birth also can be reduced by performing and getting all the health benefits of yoga.

7. Faster Uterus Involution 

The next one on the list of advantages of breastfeeding is fasten the uterus involution. During pregnancy, the uterus expands and enlarges according to the size of the fetus. During childbirth, the mother's body produces the hormone oxytocin which helps the delivery process. 

After the delivery process is complete, the uterus undergoes a process called involution which the uterus will return to its original size. Oxytocin not only helps the labor process but also helps the involution process faster. 

Studies show that mothers who breastfeed have higher levels of oxytocin and a faster involution process than mothers who do not breastfeed. Breastfeeding mothers also experience less bleeding and have a better bond with their babies. 

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8. Helps in Weight Loss 

Last but not least, one of the advantages of breastfeeding is to make moms more healthy. Every woman certainly has a weight problem after giving birth. Help in weight loss is another great advantage of breastfeeding for new moms. 

Breastfeeding helps nursing mom burn more fat after 3 months. Although it can help burn fat, breastfeeding is not a major factor to lose weight. 

A healthy diet and have the regular health benefits of exercise can also help overcome the problem of being overweight in mothers after giving birth.

Tips for New-Breastfeeding Mom

After knowing the advantage of breastfeeding, you may be interested. If you decide to breastfeed your baby you better check the following tips:

• Before starting, it is better to consult with your doctor first to find out what equipment is needed to breastfeed properly.
• Ask the doctor how you should breastfeed if you are taking certain medications 
• Preparation of equipment that can help the breastfeeding process such as nursing bras, lactation bags, etc. 
• Ask friends or family for advice on breastfeeding.
• Consume nutrient-dense foods such as meat, fish, legumes, vegetables, etc for better breast milk content. You can also obtain the health benefits of eggs for better results.
• Know a good breastfeeding position so that the baby will feel comfortable and you do not experience irritation. 

Those are some of the advantages of breastfeeding that you may know. Make sure you apply the tips to get the best advantage both for the baby and for you.

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