Wonders Of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is a characteristic practice by which mammals, including people, support their young ones. They put the child to sleep, permitting the young one to nurse and get sustenance. It is an age-long practice (however long life has existed).

The breast also called the mammary gland, is a tissue overlying the chest of mammals (coined from the word mammary gland) and humans. Possession of breasts is the major and distinguishing characteristic of all mammals. By implication, the major reason for being a mother and the expectation on a mother is to breastfeed her child—not bottle-feeding or formula feeding. The breast is well developed in the female to secrete, that is, to produce milk, to meet this expectation of feeding her young. The breast is also a sexual organ designed to further beautify a woman.

The benefits of breastfeeding are too numerous to mention. They are far-reaching and should be harnessed by every woman to take care of her baby. Breastfeeding has many advantages for a woman and her baby. Hence, the practice of exclusive breastfeeding is advocated to help mothers and children harness all these benefits. Exclusive breastfeeding is the practice of giving a newborn baby breastmilk for only the first six months of his life.

Benefits for the mother

- Breastfeeding brings about effective and optimal involution contraction of the uterus, returning it to its original size after childbirth. The sucking action of the baby stimulates the secretion of oxytocin from the mother’s brain which causes her uterus to contract. Hence there is less incidence of post-partum hemorrhage (bleeding after delivery)

- Regular breastfeeding encourages frequent emptying of the breast which is the stimulus for more and continuous supply of milk. The more the baby sucks the more the milk flows.

- Regular breastfeeding reduces the mother’s risk for breast cancer, Ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer.

- With regular breastfeeding and breast engorgement, Inflammation and pain (mastitis) is completely avoided

- It helps the mother to burn up more calories after childbirth hence she can maintain good shape and stature

- Emotionally the mother is happier, and calmer with increased self-confidence and self-esteem. Post-partum depression is therefore reduced. This is the real joy of motherhood

- It provides an opportunity for bonding between mother and baby and enhancing the relationship and affection for each other. The baby studies the mother's face and smiles back at her while sucking. They establish communication, both verbal and non-verbal.

Benefits for the baby

- A breastfed baby is well-nourished and healthy. Breastmilk has the proper composition of water and nutrients in the proportions needed for the proper growth and development of the baby. The nutrients are more easily digested and absorbed for use than any other infant formula. That is why infant formulas are making an effort to intimate as closely as possible the composition of breastmilk. There is no perfect breastmilk substitute

- Breast milk is ever ready for use It is stored at the correct temperature. No need for delay in warming or preparing the food when the child is hungry

- It is hygienically prepared. The Incidence of contamination with attendant diarrhea and vomiting is reduced. Exclusively fed babies are hardly sick.

- More importantly, breastmilk especially colostrum contains lots of immunoglobins which build the child’s immunity by helping the baby fight infections. Colostrum is the first milk, yellowish which the mother's breast produces in the first three (3) to four (4) days after childbirth.

- Breastfeeding reduces the instances of allergies and asthma in the baby

- The times of cuddling while breastfeeding make the baby feel loved and helps to shape and develop the child’s emotional and behavioral health early in life

Truly breast milk is a wonder. All these benefits can only be experienced when mothers dedicate themselves to breastfeeding their babies and do that exclusively.