Breastfeeding, although not the easiest thing to do, is
undoubtedly the best thing that you can do for your baby. Yes
it takes practice and is time consuming, but there are more than
quite a few benefits of breastfeeding your baby than you might think.
When you breastfeed your baby, not only is it nutritious for
your baby but it is a bonding experience every time you feed
your baby. Breastfeeding makes a strong bond between mother and
child.
Studies suggest that breastfeeding can reduce the risk of breast
cancer.
Breastfeeding can help you burn up to 500 extra calories per
day. You may feel more hungry but you will get rid of all of
those unwanted pregnancy pounds in no time at all when you
breastfeed.
Nighttime feedings are easier, instead of going to the
refrigerator and then warming up some formula, you just have to
put a very hungry baby to your breast and there you go. You can
relax and feed your baby at the same time. There are many ways
of feeding your baby as well, you can lie down, or just hold
them in the traditional way. They even have boppys which are
little pillows that you rest baby on so your arms don't get
tired. What an easy way to feed baby!
Babies are born to breastfeed, just like cows or any other baby
animals that nurse. This is just the natural thing to do.
There are over 100 different ingredients in breast milk that you
can't find in cow's milk, and can't be made in a laboratory.
Your breast milk provides just the right amount of sugars, fats,
antibodies, everything that your baby needs to grow.
Breast milk is free- It costs up to $15 to buy a can of formula,
which adds up when your baby is drinking a bottle every 3 to 4
hours. Half used cans or half drank bottles have to be thrown
away when using formula, proven to be wasteful. With breast
milk all you have to do is stop nursing.
Breastfeeding is more convenient than formula, no bottles to
sanitize, no having to make sure a bottle is clean when you have
a screaming baby that wants to eat. Your breast milk is always
on hand just the right temperature and just enough to fill baby
up.
Nursing fulfills babies sucking needs. It is like a pacifier as
babies can continue sucking on an empty breast but not an empty
bottle, for that can cause air to get in their tummies.
Babies who nurse are less obese than babies that drink formula.
The baby who bottle feeds tends to drink until the milk is all
gone, while the breastfeed baby gets more fat at the end of the
breast milk which makes him/her feel full.
Babies that nurse are building up their immune systems. Through
their mother's breast milk they are getting antibodies and
overall these babies will get fewer colds and will have fewer
health problems than those babies that drink formula.
These are just some of the benefits of breast milk...there are
many others as well. Do what's best for your baby and breastfeed.