Benefits of breastmilk and breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the oldest biological need derived from an innate instinct, thanks to which we have survived as a species. It is part of the reproduction process, a prerequisite for survival and health, common to all cultures and civilizations. There is no substitute for breastmilk and no other baby food can compare with it!

Preparing for breastfeeding

Long before the act of childbirth, your body began to prepare for breastfeeding. Your breasts changed shape, became firmer and bigger, the skin on your breasts become more sensitive to touch. Nipples and areolas became darker; besides, changes in the breasts are often the first sign of pregnancy. Colostrum begins to be produced between the 16th and 22nd weeks of pregnancy. Immediately after delivery, the first meal for your baby is ready in your breasts, although most mothers are not even aware that they already have milk.

Good to know when making a decision about breastfeeding

  • Your milk is always available, hygienically safe, at the appropriate temperature, free of charge.
  • In the first six months of life, it is the only food and fluid that a child needs.
  • Your milk is specially tailored to your baby's needs and changes from day to day, from month to month, from breastfeeding to breastfeeding, to meet the baby's needs.
  • Through the taste of the mother's milk, the child gets acquainted with the taste of the food eaten by the family.
  • The money you would have to set aside each month for formula is quite a burden on your household budget and you can use it in a much better and more useful way.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age. From the sixth month, it is recommended to introduce appropriate and safe non-dairy foods and to continue breastfeeding until the age of two. In 2006, the WHO presented new growth standards for children from birth to the age of 5. In the development of these standards, a breastfed child is set as the biological norm, against which all other children will be compared.

For a child, the benefits of breastfeeding begin at an early age and last a lifetime. Breastmilk prepares the body for long-term health protection and adaptation to the environment. While the baby suckles, the risk of developing various diseases is reduced:

  • Intestinal infections - in developed countries, breastfeeding reduces the cost of treatment for intestinal infections, and in underdeveloped ones, it saves the children's lives
  • Severe respiratory infections - proven reduced hospitalization rate due to lower respiratory tract infections
  • Otitis media
  • SIDS / Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Later in childhood, the risk of:

  • Allergy/asthma, atopic dermatitis
  • Childhood leukaemia
  • Celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease in children
  • Breastfeeding helps the proper eruption of teeth, the development of the jaw and the vocal apparatus
  • Chronic non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death, as well as illness, incapacity for work and enormous expenditures in developed countries worldwide.
  • Breastfed babies will have lower cholesterol and lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes later in life.
  • Breastfeeding and breastmilk have been shown to be effective in relieving procedural pain - pain caused by diagnostic and other procedures, such as capillary blood sampling, giving vaccines, etc.

Positive influence on cognitive functions

  • Breastfeeding improves higher  brain functions, such as thinking and memory;
  • Breastfed babies perform better on intelligence tests.
  • These effects are especially important for at-risk children, such as preterm and low-birth-weight babies.
  • Improving cognitive functions is directly linked to the length of breastfeeding.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother

  • Breastfeeding reduces the risk of premenopausal breast and ovarian cancer, as well as type 2 diabetes, in addition to gestational.
  • Bone mineralization is better and the risk of hip fractures is reduced at a later age.
  • Higher calorie and fat consumption contribute to an easier return to pre-pregnancy weight.

Contraceptive effect: Breastfeeding delays the re-establishment of the menstrual cycle, ovulation and thus the possibility of conception. This effect is, however, limited and depends on a number of factors. Don't rely on being protected from unwanted pregnancy while breastfeeding; ovulation can occur without menstruation. Ask your gynaecologist what contraceptive method is the best while breastfeeding. The interval between two pregnancies should be at least two years, especially if the birth was completed by caesarean section.

The longer you breastfeed, the better! For the child: it is best when it starts from the first day and when the child is exclusively breastfed; the positive effects are manifested after three months of exclusive breastfeeding and increase with longer breastfeeding. For the mother: the effects of each child's breastfeeding months add up!

BREASTFEEDING is far more than just eating. During breastfeeding, a strong bond is established between the mother and baby and the baby's need for love, warmth and security is met in a unique way. BREASTFEEDING IS FOOD FOR THE SOUL AS WELL!