Baby Breastfeeding and its Importance
Breast milk is a superlative food for your baby, and it is the only source of all the required nutrition for an infant below 6 months of age. The benefits of baby breastfeeding outspread further than basic nutrition.
It is an essential part of initial nutrients for your baby and helps in several manners. Breast milk plays an all-rounder role in child’s overall development and its needs. It provides required water too as 80% of breast milk contains water, so the baby does not need outside water for first six months of age.
Additionally, breast milk protects your baby from many diseases. It creates a health shield around your baby and keeps it away from several illnesses and diseases. It boosts immunity of the child and nurtures it in many manners.
Benefits of breastfeeding:
A breastfed baby is definitely healthier than formula fed baby.
This is the reason that the World Health Organization (WHO) endorses exclusive breastfeeding for the first six of baby’s age and it is also recommended to breastfeed a baby as long as possible, and ideally till the age of 2 years at least. Breastfeeding has several benefits on the mother too. So it’s a win-win situation for baby and mom too.
Here are some of the most significant benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby.
Breastfeeding creates a protective shield from several illnesses:
Various studies from around the world have displayed that stomach infections, ear infections, lower respiratory illnesses occur less often in breastfed babies and are less severe if they do occur. Exclusive breastfeeding (means no water, solid food or formula) for first six months offers maximum protection.
Breastfeeding protects your baby from developing allergies
Babies who are fed a formula based on soy milk or cow’s milk, tend to be affected by more allergic reactions than the breastfed babies.
Scientists say that immune aspects like secretory IgA (available in breast milk only) help inhibit allergic reactions of food by providing a coating of protection to a baby’s intestinal tract. If this protection does not exist, inflammation can progress and the wall of the intestine may become unsecured. This lets undigested proteins to pass the gut where they can cause an allergic reaction and several other health problems.
Babies who are fed formula rather than breast milk don’t get this layer of protection, so they’re more vulnerable to inflammation, allergies, and other eventual health issues.
Breastfeeding plays a key role in brain development of baby
Breastfeeding Essentials:
Here are some of the breastfeeding essentials that every mom needs to get comfort through this phase. Breastfeeding is not an easy job. Sometimes it can be a painful and frustrating experience too. Though it’s a tough job, every mother willingly offers breast milk to her baby. And many of them just love the breastfeeding sessions, as it improves the bonding between the baby and mom. Sometimes the baby may latch on the nipples harshly, and it can be extremely painful. So there are many products available in the market to soothe the pain of the mother and give her happy experience of nursing.
Nipple balm can soothe the irritation and pain when the baby latches on the nipples for breast milk. Sometimes the nipples may bleed and it needs healing. Nipple balm has great effects to soothe and heal the wounds.
You will have to stock up at least 4–5 nursing bras. Though you are not going to go out in this nursing period, you still may need these nursing bras. Stocking up 4–5 nursing bras is necessary as you will have to change and wash the nursing bras twice a day as they get wet with dripping milk. And wearing a clean bra is very important to avoid any infections.
A breast pump is extremely useful for working mothers as they can still provide the required nutrition. As mother’s milk is still the best food for your infant till the age of six months, the baby may get it in your absence too. You can express your breast milk with breast pumping. Breast pumps come in various options like a manual breast pump, electric breast pump and so on. You can make your preferred breast pumping schedules and express the breast milk and store it in some bottles. It needs to be refrigerated if the baby is going to consume within few hours. You can also freeze it if the baby is not going to consume it very soon. There are several best breast pumps for exclusively pumping are available in the market. You can also order them online. Best breast pumps for exclusively pumping can help you get the best results while expressing the milk. As expressing the milk with hands can be lesser in quantity than the ones expressed with breast pumps.
Using breast pumps also ensures that there are no lumps are remaining in your breast which avoids the future pain of getting lumps and improves the milk production too.
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