Breastfeeding is considered the only perfect food for a baby and it is the key to the baby’s healthy immune system. If possible, exclusively feeding a baby breast milk is the best choice a mother can make for her child for the first six months to a year of life. If direct breastfeeding is not possible, providing expressed human milk is recommended.  We are going to look at breastmilk composition and benefits of breastfeeding a baby.

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Personal Story

I loved breastfeeding my babies. It was convenient for middle of the night feedings, since there wasn’t a need to prepare and warm a bottle. It provided personal bonding time, which was especially valued when I had more children and responsibilities to accomplish every day.

Breastmilk Composition

Depending on the length of time a mother has been lactating, breastmilk contains:

• Colostrum, which is part of breastmilk in the first days of an infant’s life, contains antibodies and bifidus which boosts the baby’s immune system. Colostrum acts like a stimulant to removes meconium from the baby’s bowels.
• Fat
• Protein
• Amino acids
• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Hormones
• Water

Breastmilk contains everything needed to nourish an infant.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

There are many benefits of breastfeeding.

• Lower costs associated with breastfeeding than bottle feeding
• Protection of infant from virus and bacteria
• Fewer infant ear infections
• Nurturing relationship between mother and child
• Skin to skin contact provides warmth for the baby
• Helps the mother to return to pre-pregnancy weight
• Less chance of postpartum depression
• Delays the return of the mother’s fertility
• Reduces mother’s risks of breast and ovarian cancer, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease

These are just a few of the many benefits of breastfeeding.

Action

If you are pregnant, start reading about the benefits of breastfeeding and breastmilk so that you will be able to make informed decisions about the best way to feed your infant.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. What do you think about breastfeeding?