Giving birth to a baby is an important life event for any couple. It changes your life in many different ways. You have to make sure you take care of your body and be more responsible about what you put in it.
In Australia, it is recommended that a mother breastfeed her baby for at least the first six months. Even when you introduce solid food into their diet, health authorities recommend breastfeeding them until the twelfth month.
Many women find breastfeeding uncomfortable. However, there are products out there, like breastfeeding friendly clothing, that make the process a bit easier.
If you're a skeptical about breastfeeding, it does offer a bunch of benefits associated for both the mother and child.
Benefits for the Child
- Ideal Nutrition for Babies
Breast milk is one of the most nutritious foods for a newborn child. It contains all the nutrients, vitamins and protein that the baby needs in the right proportions. It also has a unique feature of being able to adapt to the baby’s needs. During the first few days after childbirth, breasts naturally produce a yellowish, thick fluid known as colostrum. It helps in developing the digestive tract of a newborn child. - Reduces the Risk of Diseases
When you feed your child only breast milk and no other food supplement for at least six months, it reduces the risk of diseases. Breast milk contains antibodies that safeguard your child against bacteria and viruses. It also helps in reducing the chances of your baby developing respiratory tract infections, intestinal tissue damage, ear infections, diabetes, asthma, and eczema. - Breast Milk is Sterile
Every time you use a milk bottle you have to sterilize that bottle cleaning with a special solution and warm water. You also have to make sure that milk is warmed properly to ensure it doesn’t have any contaminants present in it. Now, compare this scenario with breast milk, it’s naturally sterile and contains all the nutrients and vitamins in it. You don’t have to worry about extra steps in decontaminating anything. - Promotes Healthy Baby Weight
In the above point, we mentioned the nutritional value of breastfeeding and how it contains all the needed nutrients in it. This not only keeps your baby safe from diseases, it also makes your baby healthy. Breastfeeding your child can prevent them from becoming obese. It is recommended to breastfeed your child for at least four to six months as it helps in the development of beneficial gut bacteria.
Benefits for the Mother:
- Lowers Risk of Depression for Mothers
The most common form of depression faced by women after childbirth is Postpartum Depression (PPD). Various studies have found that those women who breastfeed their children are less likely to develop this depression. If you find symptoms of PPD, then immediately contact your doctor. It also protects a mother from breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. - Help Some Mums Lose Weight
You might’ve heard this quite often. Not all women lose weight while breastfeeding, there are a few who gain weight. But, in general, you’ll find that breastfeeding burns calories. When carried out for more than 3 months, those mothers who lactated burn fat more as compared to non-lactating mothers. - Saves Time and Money
When you consider factors such as time and money, you will find that breastfeeding can help you with both. You don’t have to spend anything on breastfeeding apart from your own food and breast pumps. Read out blog on "Effective Tips for Taking Care of New Born Infants During COVID-19"
In the end, you get to decide. The above-mentioned benefits for mother and child explain how effective breastfeeding is. So, don’t let yourself and your newly born baby be deprived of the benefits of breastfeeding. If you are worried about clothing, you’ll be amazed by all the available options for nursing clothing in Australia.
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