Chances are you have heart how beneficial breast milk is for a baby but do you know why. In addition to the huge convenience breastfeeding offers the mom, it is also a natural choice. You see, breast milk is loaded with every nutrient needed for your precious bundle. In addition, breast milk is easily digested, as well as containing immune factors that help children battle allergies. Breast milk also offers the perfect caloric content.
When milk first comes in, it is actually a substance called “colostrum”. Thin and slightly yellow in color, colostrum is jam packed with all types of natural protective agents to include antibiotics. With this, a newborn has the ability to fight off disease and infection more than a baby who is bottle-fed. Additionally, colostrum has a higher caloric and protein base, again working with the baby to battle common problems such as diarrhea and ear infections.
While there are a number of interesting facts associated with breast milk, one that still amazes me is that a woman’s body can customize breast milk specific to the baby’s nutritional needs. As your baby grows older, or as his or her feeding frequency changes, the body adjust the milk content yet again. That way, regardless of your baby’s needs, you do nothing, as the body does it for you automatically.
In addition to breast milk being highly beneficial for the baby, it also offers some significant benefits for mom. First, after a baby is born, the stimulation of the suckling causes the uterus to contract. The result is the body getting back into shape quicker than with bottle-feeding. Then, breastfeeding has also been shown to reduce risk of certain cancers to include breast, ovarian, and uterine, not to mention osteoporosis.
In fact, breast milk helps reduce symptoms associated with post partum depression. Although not all women go through this period of “blues”, many women do. Of course as mentioned, you also have a number of conveniences. Just imagine the money saved by not having to buy expensive formula. You also have breast milk on-hand, everywhere you go and it never needs to be refrigerated. Best of all, breastfeeding creates a special bonding time for mom and baby, something that could never be replaced.