The benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and child are numerous, but how can we obtain all these benefits, and how can we confront problems related to breastfeeding?
The benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and the child are many, so the World Health Organization recommends that breast milk remain the main source of food for the child until he reaches the age of half a year, and also recommends continuing breastfeeding until the age of one year in addition to solid food.
Immediate benefits of breastfeeding for the baby
The benefits of immediate breastfeeding for the baby include the following
1. Improving the performance of the digestive system
One of the benefits of breastfeeding a child is that breast milk contains many compounds that directly affect the digestive system positively. The explanation is as follows:
Many substances, including hormones such as cortisol and insulin, growth factors, and free amino acids, regulate the growth and development of the digestive system.
Other factors, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, reduce the risk of life-threatening gastrointestinal infections, the most prominent of which is a serious disease called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
Immune system compounds that are abundant in breast milk, such as IgG and IgA antibodies or immune system cells, significantly reduce the baby''s risk of developing gastrointestinal infections.
Enzymes are special compounds in breast milk that not only contribute to organizing and implementing the proper digestion process, but also protect the body from the risk of infections and infectious diseases.
Ultimately, it has been proven that breast milk-based nutrition contributes to the proliferation of good bacteria in the digestive system of the developing child.
Thanks to these and other compounds, it has been shown that breastfeeding improves the performance of the child’s physiological digestive processes, as stomach emptying is faster, and the process of breaking down enzymes such as lactase is better.
In addition, it reduces risks related to the digestive system of premature infants, such as hyperpermeability, and significantly reduces the risk of infectious and inflammatory complications, such as diarrhea.
2. Strengthen the child''s immunity
Breast milk protects against the risk of infectious diseases and is one of the important benefits of breastfeeding for the child.
This is thanks to many special compounds that are not found in commercial formula milk, including proteins, IgA antibodies, lipids such as free fatty acids, monoglycerides, and others.
In addition, it contains carbohydrates, some types of glycoproteins, and white blood cells, which are all compounds that the child needs to strengthen his immune system and strengthen his body.
The statistical result of these and other compounds is reflected in a lower rate of disease, doctor visits, hospitalization, and death rate among children who were breastfed.
The difference was observed especially in the field of infectious diseases in childhood, as children who received natural milk were 5 times less likely to develop infectious diseases in the digestive system.
They were also 50% less likely to develop infectious diseases of the respiratory system, and when infected, the duration of illness was significantly shorter. They were also 1.5 times less likely to develop middle ear infections, urinary tract infections were less likely, and their incidence of sepsis was reduced. ).
These data remained important even after comparing the initial data, such as the social level, cultural level, etc., of the children who were fed natural milk and those who received artificial milk. Thus, the benefits of breastfeeding for the child are superior.
3. Providing comprehensive nutrition for the child
Despite the best efforts of commercial companies to ensure that formula contains all the essential nutritional compounds a baby needs, technical limitations and human errors appear to continue to limit the ability of formula to come close to the nutritional value of breast milk. Which provides the benefits of breastfeeding to the baby.
This is because breast milk contains all the nutritional compounds that the child needs, and even mothers who suffer from malnutrition have complete milk in terms of its nutritional value, which cannot be confirmed and guaranteed when the child receives artificial milk.
Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby in the long term
As for the long-term benefits of breastfeeding, they include
1. Providing protection against infectious diseases
This positive effect continues even after the baby is weaned from breastfeeding (more on how to wean a baby!).
Babies whose mothers breastfed for at least six months were less likely to develop infectious diseases, even after they started eating normal food.
They are also twice as likely to suffer from recurrent ear infections in the first year, their duration of illness is twice as short until the age of two, and they are also less likely to remain in hospital for treatment in childhood.
2. Providing protection from chronic diseases
One of the benefits of breastfeeding a child is that it protects against the risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. After decades, the risk of obesity for children who are breastfed is twice as low.
Breastfeeding also reduces the risk of cancer in childhood, in addition to reducing the risk of certain types of cancer such as leukemia throughout life.
Breastfeeding also contributes in several ways to reducing the incidence of risk factors that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease in the future.
Breastfed children are less likely to develop diabetes, especially type 1 or juvenile diabetes, and this may be due to less exposure to cow''s milk, which has been shown to be a risk factor for juvenile diabetes.
One of the benefits of breastfeeding a child is that it contributes to reducing the risk of developing immune diseases, including various allergies, asthma, and others.
3. Increase brain development and mental abilities
It has been shown that there is a relationship between breastfeeding for at least 6 months and higher scores on various intelligence (IQ) tests in childhood and adolescence.
In addition to the benefits of previous breastfeeding, breastfeeding has been shown to benefit the sensory systems. The development of the visual and auditory systems in children who were breastfed was better.
4. Relieve stress and calm the child
The emotional bond that arises between the mother and the child during breastfeeding, and some substances found in breast milk, may explain this fact, as it has been proven that breastfeeding contributes to alleviating stress in the infant. Although we do not consider infants a group particularly vulnerable to stress.
However, the anti-pain and soothing effect of breast milk contributes to the child’s social and mental development, and improves relationships between family members, especially between the mother and the infant, and this is one of the very important benefits of breastfeeding.
Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother
There are many benefits of breastfeeding for the mother as well, here are the most important:
1. Shrink the uterus and accelerate the healing process
This is thanks to the hormone oxytocin, which is secreted in large quantities during breastfeeding, as breastfeeding mothers suffer from a lower rate of complications during the period following childbirth.
2. Relieve stress for the breastfeeding mother
This may be due to the direct effect of hormones, such as prolactin and oxytocin, which are known to have a direct effect on the nervous system.
3. Reducing the possibility of developing psychological disorders
Among the benefits of breastfeeding among breastfeeding mothers, from mild depression to child abuse or neglect, which are much lower compared to mothers who do not breastfeed.
4. Motivation to lose weight
Weight loss may be the result of burning a large amount of calories, about 500 calories per day, while breastfeeding.
5. Delaying the onset of ovulation and menstruation
Menstrual periods are delayed after childbirth during breastfeeding, although breastfeeding cannot in any way be relied upon solely as a method of contraception.
6. Preventing ovarian and breast cancer
It contributes to preventing and delaying osteoporosis, and this is one of the very important benefits of breastfeeding for the mother.
7. Preventing chronic diseases
Throughout life and not just during breastfeeding, including severe obesity, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and others.
8. Economic savings
Formula milk is expensive, as parents have to spend a lot of money to provide it to the child, which can be avoided by resorting to breastfeeding.
Correct breastfeeding method
The mother must start breastfeeding the child from the first hours after birth, as one of the benefits of breastfeeding is that it strengthens the relationship between the mother and the child, and also gives the child the nutrients he needs to strengthen and protect him.
Here are the steps for breastfeeding
Prepare for breastfeeding by sitting in a comfortable chair.
Prop your child on a pillow in your lap.
Support your breast with one hand and the baby''s head with the other.
Hold the breast in the correct way by placing the index and middle fingers on the nipple and the rest of the fingers below the breast. As for the thumb, leave it outside.
Touch the lower lip with the nipple until his mouth opens wide.
Bring the baby close to the breast, not the breast to the baby.
Insert the nipple and part of the brown areola around the nipple into the baby''s mouth so that the baby begins to suck the milk.
Notes on breastfeeding
Here are some important notes to achieve easy and smooth breastfeeding and to be able to achieve the benefits of breastfeeding for you and your child as follows:
Ensure that your baby is supported correctly during breastfeeding by placing him on your stomach or on a breastfeeding pillow.
Ensure that his mouth is attached to the breast tissue, and grasps the nipple appropriately.
Make sure that his jaw movements put pressure on the milk ducts and cause the milk to flow and exit the nipple without causing the nipple to crack and feel pain.
At the beginning of the breastfeeding process, the mother may feel slight sensitivity in the nipples or pain, as a result of the baby holding the nipple incorrectly, putting pressure on her chest and nipple.
The mother should talk to her baby while breastfeeding and caress him as well.
The baby breastfeeds little in the first days, but over time he breastfeeds according to his needs.
The child should not be forced to breastfeed, and should not be fed breast milk through a bottle, because this may reduce the child’s desire to breastfeed.
Breastfeeding is stopped after a period ranging from six months to two years after birth, and this is done when the child stops feeling the need to breastfeed.
