Breastfed Babies: Reasons Why Moms should Consider Breastfeeding
their Babies
Giving birth to a live, healthy baby is a thrilling, nerve-racking
indescribably blissful experience for a new mother. New mothers are
suddenly introduced to a new world filled with baby bottles, diapers and
the overwhelming responsibility of having to care for the newborn. This
includes finding means to nourish the baby. During the early stages of
life, milk is the primary source of nutrition for infants. Mothers have
the option of either feeding their babies with breast milk or with
infant formula. Several advantages have been associated with feeding the
bay with breast milk. Breastfed babies are known to be more physically
fit and attractive, less prone to illnesses and allergies, and more
intelligent and emotionally stable than babies who were fed with infant
formula. The advantages that breastfeeding babies, however, are not
limited to the infant. Mothers can also obtain a myriad of benefits from
breastfeeding their infants. One huge advantage of breastfeeding the
infant is that it facilitates mother-child bonding. In several
hospitals, the act of allowing the newborn to suck on the mother’s
breast immediately after delivery is a widely accepted practice. This
serves as a good first, face-to-face encounter between the mother and
child. Apart from the emotional attachment fostered by early
breastfeeding, it also enables the release of certain hormones that
facilitate the contraction of the woman’s uterus after delivery. This
aids significantly in preventing the occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage
and lessens the threat to the life of the mother. Breastfeeding the baby
also enables the mother’s uterus to return easily and rapidly to the
pre-pregnancy state.
 Breastfeeding the infant can also be beneficial
to the sexual activities of the couple as it delays the return of the
woman’s fertile state. Husbands and wives can then enjoy the benefits of
having sexual intercourse without the hassle of utilizing contraceptive
devices or the worry of getting pregnant again soon. Breastfeeding the
infant also enables the mother to achieve a better figure since
breastfeeding helps in burning calories. Another great advantage that
breastfeeding yields to moms are it prevents various forms of cancer
such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Also, due to the availability
of calcium in the system, breastfeeding the infant can help prevent
osteoporosis. Breastfeeding is more cost-effective compared to
bottle-feeding. Mothers can be ensured that they are able to save a
great deal of money while providing the baby with the proper nourishment
that he needs. Moms are also afforded with the feeling of pride and
sense of gratification of being able to play a vital role in sustaining
the lives and promoting the health of their babies.
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