The benefits of breastfeeding. Should the baby be breastfed? Benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mother

Your baby has been born. Every mother tries to give her child only the best. Let's take a closer look at the benefits breastfeeding for child and mother.

The World Health Organization and pediatricians around the world are on the side of breastfeeding and actively recommend it. The right to choose the method of feeding remains, of course, with the mother. To accept correct solution We will try to tell in detail all aspects of breastfeeding.

Benefits of Breastfeeding Babies

Mother's milk is by nature a perfect, valuable product. Nature has invested in it all the most valuable qualities that ensure life, health, and the proper development of the baby.

The optimally required amount, a balanced ratio of nutrients, an easily digestible form - all these qualities are adapted to the physiological and biochemical processes of the child's body. Such properties are very important, since the organs and systems of the newborn are not yet fully developed.

Until now, scientists are discovering more and more valuable components in human milk. It's amazing how much nature has thought of everything: composition and properties.

So, let's look at the content of breast milk to understand why it is so invaluable to babies.

vitamins

Women's milk is rich in vitamins (especially A, E, D), minerals (iron, zinc, calcium, phosphorus). All these components are in an easily digestible form, thanks to this the body does not need to expend effort on their digestion.

Squirrels

We all know from a biology course that protein is necessary as a building material for cells, and it is vital for a rapidly growing organism. Amino acids are ideally adapted to still imperfect metabolic processes. They are easily digestible.

Fats

In breast milk, they are absorbed by the child by 90-95%. Fats contain fat-soluble vitamins A and E, which are very relevant for a newborn baby.

Carbohydrates

They are represented by lactose, which has a bifidogenic property, promotes the development of beneficial intestinal microflora of the crumbs, while preventing the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

Minerals

Women's milk is rich in many minerals: calcium, phosphorus, iron, etc. Their properties prevent the development of rickets, malnutrition and other diseases.

Hormones

Immunoglobulins

Breastfed babies are less likely to get sick, they have a lower percentage of chronic diseases. This is due to the content of immunoglobulins, antibodies that help the child's immature immunity to reach perfection.

Remember.The first drops of milk - colostrum - contain a particularly high concentration of immunoglobulins. Helps protect the baby's body from pathogenic microbes that he encounters in the first moments of his life. No mixture can replace this property of breast milk.

Enzymes

Women's milk is rich in special enzymes necessary for the process of splitting proteins, fats, carbohydrates.

The value of human milk is limitless:
has a protective function, strengthens the immune system, which is a barrier to many diseases;
sterility of milk, so there is no need for additional processing;
the child receives milk at a comfortable temperature;
balanced nutrient content, in an easily digestible form;
ease of feeding, no need for additional attributes;
improves the functioning of the baby's brain, which contributes to better psychomotor development.

According to research by the international organization UNICEF, it has been proven that for six months of breastfeeding, the IQ of a child increases by 6-8 points.

Medicinal properties of mother's milk

Studies of women's milk have proven its medicinal properties. Helps with various problems.

Milk is sterile and contains antibodies, which helps fight conjunctivitis, which is common in babies. A few drops of expressed milk will help get rid of this trouble.

Diseases of the ears, perfectly cured with 2-3 drops of expressed milk, instilled every 3-4 hours, you can do without the help of antibiotics.

With light burns, including sunburn, lubricating the burn site moistened with breast milk with a swab will relieve pain and help healing.

Light scratches, insect bites, diaper rash can also be treated with human milk.

Cracks in the nipples that occur in the first months of feeding are well cured with breast milk. After feeding, decanting the rest of the milk, it is necessary to rinse the chest with warm water, then express a couple of drops, lubricate the affected areas. This will help remove pain and close the cracks.

Benefits of breastfeeding for women

No prettier pictures than a mother who breastfeeds her child. A woman in the period of motherhood becomes even more beautiful, sensual. At all times, artists have admired and painted pictures of mothers breastfeeding their babies. An important fact is that a lot depends on the correct attachment of the baby to the breast, you can see in detail how to do this in this article.

Feeding brings a lot of positive aspects:

Breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin. It enhances uterine contraction, and this is the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage.
Immediately after birth, the baby is applied to the breast, at which point not only oxytocin is produced, but also another hormone - prolactin. It is responsible for the production of breast milk.
Scientists have proven in nursing mothers that oncological diseases of the breast, uterus, and ovaries are less common.
When breastfeeding, the connection between a woman and a child becomes stronger, the maternal instinct flares up with greater force.

When carrying a child by a surrogate mother, psychologists do not recommend putting the child to the breast. This may cause doubt in the decision to give the child to parents and further complex psycho-emotional problems.

Natural feeding is convenient and economical. A woman does not need to take a lot of bottles, formula, etc. with her when going for a walk or getting up at night to sterilize the bottle and prepare artificial formula.

Psychological benefits of breastfeeding

Science has proven that breastfed babies are different from formula-fed babies. Such children are better developed physically and emotionally.

Breastfeeding brings together mother and baby. Above all, breastfeeding is a further foundation for development at an older age.

They are more active, balanced, psychologically. Such children are more resistant to various stressful situations. For example, the first visit kindergarten, schools. Therefore, it is important to know how to properly organize the nutrition of a newborn.

As a rule, such kids grow up as friendly, sociable and friendly people. The emotional attachment of the child to the mother does not pass without a trace; in the future, attentive, caring parents grow out of them.

With mother's milk, all the warmth, love and tenderness of the mother is transmitted. A bottle of the mixture will never be able to convey energy, emotional warmth, security. There are many cases when mothers immediately after the birth of the crumbs wanted to abandon them for various reasons. As soon as they feed the child at least once, the decision changed in favor of the baby.

While the mother is carrying a child, she has time to decide whether she will stick to natural, breastfeeding of the child, or artificial feeding with special milk mixtures. If there are no contraindications (for example, if the mother has an infection that can be transmitted with milk to the baby), then doctors unanimously recommend breastfeeding, noting its benefits for both the child and his mother. Breastfeeding is not in vain called natural, as it is the ideal nutrition for the baby, which is provided by nature itself, and no analogues can even come close to replacing it.

Benefits of breastfeeding for a baby:

The proteins, fats and carbohydrates in breast milk are the right ratio 1:3:6.
There is more protein in cow's milk, but it is less digestible due to the fact that it is difficult to break down, and breast milk proteins are broken down and digested more easily. Therefore, breastfed babies are less likely to have allergic reactions.
Breast milk proteins contain all the necessary amino acids, and in addition, women's milk contains a much higher amount of unsaturated fatty acids, which increases the body's resistance to intestinal infections.
Also in mother's milk there are antibodies to various infections, creating protection for the child.
It also contains more lactose (milk sugar), which is beneficial for brain development and normalizes intestinal microflora.
The amount of enzymes, vitamins and trace elements in breast milk is optimal.
Cow's milk contains more mineral salts, which overload the kidneys and contribute to the development of hypertension in the future.
Breast milk is sterile, which reduces the risk of intestinal infections
Breast milk contains lecithin, which promotes the reproduction of brain cells. In addition, components of breast milk accumulate in the subcutaneous fatty tissue, which are used by the body for several years to work the brain.
In a child with artificial feeding, an increased need for food is fixed, which in the future can lead to obesity.
With natural feeding, it happens faster mental development(talents, intelligence), and with artificial - physical and sexual (maturation, aging).
Breast sucking contributes to the correct formation of the jaw apparatus, correct articulation and serves as a prevention of speech disorders.
Attachment to the mother's breast facilitates the adaptation of the baby to new conditions, the transition from the prenatal period to the post-natal period, since close contact with the mother is maintained, which is why the transition is not so abrupt.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the mother:

A breastfeeding woman recovers faster after childbirth, as a special hormone, oxytocin, is produced during feeding, which stimulates uterine contractions, which reduces the risk of bleeding after childbirth and, accordingly, the risk of developing anemia.
When breastfeeding, women usually get in shape faster, as it improves metabolism. In addition, a nursing mother should refrain from junk food and bad habits, which also contributes to the rapid restoration of shape and develops the habit of proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle life, adhering to which, she will look good in the future.
During breastfeeding, a woman can take a break from menstruation, as this will delay the resumption of the cycle after childbirth.
It is believed that breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing oncology in the female part.
Breastfeeding strengthens the emotional bond between mother and child, so breastfeeding women are less likely to experience postpartum depression and recover from it more easily.
When breastfeeding, the mother saves time and effort on feeding, as it does not require special preparations - you can breastfeed at any time of the day or night, without even getting out of bed.
No need to stock up on the road: breast milk is always at hand and you can feed your baby at any time.
There is no need to spend money on the mixture, because there will be a lot of expenses in connection with the birth of a child.

The first application of the child to
maternal breast, which must be carried out immediately after childbirth, literally in the first half hour (if the state of health of the child and mother allows). The child is placed naked on the mother's stomach so that there is skin contact, and covered with a sterile diaper on top. Unfortunately, in many maternity hospitals this rule is not observed, and the child is brought to the first feeding already swaddled and after 2-3 hours, when this does not bring the desired effect. Therefore, it is better to discuss this point with your doctor in advance or choose a clinic where early application is practiced.

Benefits of early breastfeeding for a baby:

Creation of a strong immune defense, since the mother has the most antibodies in milk immediately after childbirth, and already on the second day their number is halved
The sucking reflex will develop earlier.
Useful for the formation of normal intestinal microflora.
Creates physical and emotional contact with the mother, which relieves the stress of the child - birth.

Benefits of early breastfeeding for the mother:

Physical and emotional contact with the child causes maternal feelings.
Promotes faster contraction of the uterus (reduces the risk of bleeding).
Stimulation of prolonged lactation.
Less likely to develop mastitis.

It happens that mother's milk is not enough - then supplementary feeding with milk formula is used. This type of feeding is still preferable to completely artificial. If there is not enough milk, you can try, then supplementary feeding is not needed.

How often do you need to feed a newborn baby and a child up to a year:

In the first days of a baby's life - breastfeeding on demand up to 12-16 times a day. Frequent feeding useful for both mother and child: satisfies the hunger of the baby and stimulates lactation in the mother.
By 1-2 months, you can gradually switch to a certain feeding regimen: 7 times a day every 3 hours, with a night break of 6 hours for sleep.
At 3-4 months, the number of feedings can be reduced to six times, and the break between them can be increased to 3.5 hours.
At the age of 5-12 months, the number of feedings is reduced to 5 times every 4 hours, the nightly sleep break is 8 hours.

Breastfeeding is truly a gift given to man by nature. This gift brings good health to the baby, and also keeps the mother healthy. In our article, we will look at the main benefits of breastfeeding for the baby and mother. Benefits of breastfeeding for your baby Breast milk is the food your baby needs for the first 12 months of life. The composition of breast milk is optimal, therefore. . . .

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Many young mothers are in a hurry to transfer their child to artificial ones, focusing on annoying manufacturers' advertisements that claim that mixtures are no worse than breast milk. Moreover, in the very first month after childbirth, breastfeeding can “bring surprises” to the mother in the form of painful cracks in the nipples, lactostasis, and even.

But the benefits of breastfeeding are many for the baby (most importantly) and for the mother. Having carefully studied the importance of mother's milk for a baby, perhaps many women will take the issue of feeding a newborn baby more seriously.

With mother's milk, the child receives the hormone of joy, which provides him with a good mood.

Mother's milk is a unique product for a child, which cannot be compared with any milk formula.

Its advantages for the child in comparison with artificial nutrition are obvious:

The digestibility of mother's milk is 2 times higher, the enzymes (enzymes) contained in it contribute to the digestion of essential nutrients. Vitamins and trace elements are absorbed from breast milk better than from the highest quality mixtures.

The nutritional content is optimal for the baby. Nature provides that the composition of breast milk changes as the child grows to fully meet the needs of the developing organism, as if adjusting to them. That is why breastfed babies develop faster than "artificial" ones.

Protects against infections and promotes the formation of immunity. The immune system of a newborn is not yet formed. Breast milk contains immunoglobulins (antibodies) that can protect the baby from infections. Of great importance are class A immunoglobulins (IgA), which provide local immunity to the mucous membranes of the digestive tract, respiratory and genitourinary organs.

The highest concentration of IgA in colostrum is 16 mg/ml. It is very important that the baby be attached to the breast immediately after birth and suck out the droplets of colostrum that precedes breast milk. Already from the 2nd day, the content of immunoglobulins decreases, and from the 6th day it stabilizes and up to 8-9 months of lactation is 1 mg / ml.

With colostrum per day, about 1000 mg of IgA enters the intestines of an infant. In the following months, its entry into the intestines at the same level is ensured by increasing the frequency of feeding and the amount of milk drunk. In addition, immunoglobulins of other classes - M, G, and D - enter the child's body with milk.

So, if a child becomes infected from his mother, then he will recover faster, since he will receive ready-made antibodies to this virus with milk. According to statistics, breastfed babies are much less likely to get sick than formula-fed babies.

If the mother adheres to the recommendations for her diet, then the baby has fewer problems with the intestines. The necessary acidic environment is created in it, beneficial microorganisms necessary for proper digestion are populated, bloating is less likely to bother, and regurgitation is not so plentiful.

In the first month of life will be after each feeding. And in the subsequent up to 6 months, if the child receives only the mother's breast, the child can recover 1 time in 7-10 days. And this is the norm according to WHO, if the baby is calm, and he urinates at least 12 times a day.

Breastfeeding makes it easier to care for a sick baby. During an illness, as a rule, it is necessary to drink plenty of water, which can be provided by the mother's breast, if given the opportunity to "hang" on it as much as the baby wants. In addition to eating and drinking, suckling will help your baby calm down and fall asleep.
Children do not develop to human milk proteins, unlike cow and goat, intolerance to which occurs in almost every newborn. Breastfeeding allows you to exclude them from baby food up to 2 years.
Breastfeeding creates a special emotional bond between the baby and the mother. Contact with a mother for a baby is safety and comfort, an opportunity to feel her love.

Through trust in the mother, the ability to build relationships with other people in the future life, the ability to make friends and love is formed. Closeness with the mother, attachment to her in early childhood affect the emotional relationship in the child's life, the formation of positive traits in him as a person.

But breastfeeding also affects the mother, helps to feel the baby better and respond to changes in his condition.

With mother's milk, the baby receives the hormone of joy, which will provide him with a good mood and well-being.
Breast milk prevents the development of rickets, and at an older age -,.
Harmonious development the child is also associated with nutrition. Breast milk contains sugars and fats necessary for the development of the brain and intelligence. The baby's facial skull is properly formed, which reduces the risk of orthodontic problems and snoring in the future.
Breast sucking satisfies the non-sucking reflex in an infant.

We can definitely say that breastfed babies grow up healthier and happier.

Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Mother

Mom can feed the baby at any time, even on the street. And for this, she does not need numerous boxes, bottles and other devices - the food is always ready and always with her.

Those women who believe that breastfeeding a baby is troublesome and very burdensome are mistaken. Such feeding is not only healthy, but also convenient for mothers.

Here are its benefits:

Baby food is always ready, day or night, at home or away. No need to sterilize nipples and bottles or heat water, prepare formula while hearing a baby cry. Breast milk is always sterile, fresh, and at the right temperature.
Mom gets rid of sleepless nights: at the request of the baby at night, you can put him next to him, give him a breast and continue to doze off. The baby at the breast quickly calms down and falls asleep.
Due to the production of oxytocin in the body of a woman during breastfeeding, recovery after childbirth occurs faster. Oxytocin prevents the occurrence of postpartum hemorrhage, promotes faster contraction of the uterus.
With exclusively breastfeeding of the baby (without supplementation and supplementation), that is, up to 6 months after childbirth, lactational amenorrhea develops in the female body: the absence of ovulation and menstruation, the likelihood of pregnancy is reduced to zero, contraceptives are not needed.
Statistics have shown that women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of developing genital and breast cancer.
After childbirth, depression may develop, a feeling of depression in a woman due to a sharp change in hormonal levels. It is the hormones (endorphins) produced during lactation that soothe, reduce the effects of stress, help to cope with emerging problems and difficulties, prevent the development of neurotic reactions, and help strengthen family relationships.
The hormone prolactin produced during lactation increases the feeling of love for the child. Mothers who breastfeed a baby remain more caring, affectionate and attentive to him than those who bottle fed.
Women who believe that when feeding a child their figure will deteriorate are mistaken. The lactation period promotes the removal of fats naturally, and not as a result of exhausting fitness and starvation diets. You just need to not overeat. A nursing mother with proper nutrition quickly loses weight. When breastfeeding, you need an additional 500 kcal per day.
Good baby food- pleasure is not cheap. It is much cheaper to provide proper nutrition to a nursing mother to maintain lactation and breastfeed her baby than to buy nipples, bottles, formulas. Over the year, the savings will be about $ 1,000.
Breastfeeding is very convenient when traveling, for a long journey in a train or car. There is no need to take a supply of food, bottles and look for an opportunity to prepare the formula. Even if the child older than a year, in unforeseen situations, you can feed him with breast milk or calm a tired baby.

Resume for moms

Before deciding to transfer a child to artificial feeding should be taken seriously. And if the interests of the child are put in the first place, then the issue of breastfeeding will be decided by itself. Although for mothers, there will immediately be many advantages. In addition, breastfeeding a child is also a joy, a pleasure. Do not deprive either the child or yourself of this feeling of happiness!

Video lecture by a specialist on the topic “Whether to breastfeed. Benefits of breastfeeding":

Short educational film on the topic "Benefits and secrets of breastfeeding":

TV project "Hello, baby!", The theme of the release is "Breast milk: the subtleties and benefits of breastfeeding":

Breastfeeding is a unique gift of wise nature. It is incredibly useful for both a newborn baby and his mother. Unfortunately, for various reasons, some women deliberately refuse breastfeeding and transfer it to artificial milk formulas, not realizing that they thereby cause great harm to themselves and the child. Let's take a look at the benefits of breastfeeding and why doctors recommend breastfeeding your baby for as long as possible.

Benefits of breastfeeding for baby

Mother's milk is the most optimal food for a newborn. All the proteins, fats, microelements and vitamins contained in it are absorbed by the child's body most fully, which cannot be achieved when feeding with mixtures.

The proteins that make up breast milk do not cause allergic reactions in the child, they contain amino acids necessary for growth and development.
Breast milk fats contain many beneficial fatty acids. They are easily broken down by the child's body, in which the production of the necessary enzymes has not yet been established. The own enzyme contained in milk - lipase also helps to break down fats, providing a normal stool for the child, the absence of constipation and intestinal colic.
Mother's milk carbohydrates are represented by lactose, which regulates the acidic environment of the child's gastrointestinal system. This is very important for the functioning of beneficial bacteria and the suppression of pathogenic flora.
The calorie content of mother's milk provides the child with the necessary energy for growth and development.
During breastfeeding, the baby has the opportunity to eat as actively as he needs, to pause, which is difficult to achieve when feeding from a bottle.
In addition to enzymes, breast milk contains hormones and biologically active substances necessary for the proper development of the child. As well as a wide range of natural immunomodulators, such as lactoferrin, globulin A and others. Thanks to them, the baby receives powerful protection against viruses and infections. For each child, the composition of immune factors is individual. Antibodies obtained by the baby with mother's milk protect it from many diseases, significantly increasing the body's resistance to viruses, infections, bacteria, which artificial children do not receive.
The milk produced always has its own specific composition, which is unique during each feeding. Depending on the mother's diet and the substances transmitted through it to the child, the mother's body adjusts the composition of breast milk so that the child receives a balanced product that can be easily processed and absorbed with the greatest benefit.
During the capture of the nipple, the child forms the correct bite. Breast sucking further reduces the likelihood of caries and stomatitis.
The advantages of breastfeeding also lie in the establishment of a special psycho-emotional contact between the baby and mother in the process of feeding, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous systems of both of them.
Breast milk cannot be overheated or underheated, it is always at the optimum temperature, and it is also always sterile and cannot be stale or contain bacteria, which is quite common when formulas are used.

What to do if your chest hurts while breastfeeding

Benefits of breastfeeding for mom

Not only breastfed babies experience the benefits of breastfeeding. It also brings great benefits to women in labor.

Normalization of hormonal background. When a baby suckles the mother's breast, the female body produces the hormone oxytocin. It enhances uterine contractions, which is why babies are now breastfed immediately after birth. In breastfeeding women, the uterus recovers faster. In addition, this hormone stimulates the separation of the placenta and reduces the likelihood of bleeding.
Additional contraception. Prolactin produced during breastfeeding stimulates the production of milk by the female body. During the production of this hormone, the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone is suppressed. They are responsible for the reproductive function of the body. The absence of these hormones stops the process of maturation and release of the egg, and therefore leads to the impossibility of its fertilization, and thus protects the body from re-pregnancy. Therefore, natural feeding provides a woman in labor with natural contraception, although one can be sure of its reliability only if a number of specific requirements are met.
Suppression of cancer cells. Increased production of estrogen by the body can provoke the growth of cancer cells in the reproductive organs. Prolactin produced during breastfeeding suppresses the production of estrogen by the pituitary gland, thus reducing the likelihood of developing this disease. Medical statistics report that breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer by 50% and ovarian cancer by 25%. During feeding, mastopathy of the mammary glands significantly decreases or even disappears without a trace. To treat it in a natural way, mammologists recommend giving birth and breastfeeding a child up to 3 years.
In women with diabetes reduced insulin dependence.
Starting from the moment of conception and for six months after the cessation of lactation, calcium is intensively absorbed by the female body. Nature arranged it so that during the period when this element is so necessary for mother and child, the mechanisms of its assimilation are activated. It is believed that each breastfed child reduces the risk of osteoporosis in older women by 25%.
Weight recovery. During pregnancy, certain reserves of useful substances are formed in the body of a woman, which should provide good nutrition to the baby, even in the case of a meager diet for the mother after childbirth. Therefore, women who go on diets for weight loss after childbirth are simply wasting their time. Until the useful substances necessary for the child are transferred to him with the mother’s breast milk, getting rid of the “reserves” will still not work. Long-term breastfeeding will give a signal to the body that the baby is already strong enough and has grown up, so you can start getting rid of the reserves made “just in case”.
Improvement of the psycho-emotional state. During breastfeeding, the female body produces more than usual amounts of the hormone endorphin. He is responsible for uplifting psycho-emotional state, a feeling of happiness and joy, peace. Actively produced prolactin is a natural tranquilizer. A woman is less worried about various everyday difficulties, she focuses all her attention on the child, enjoying every minute of communication with him.
Immunity boost. During lactation, metabolic processes in the body are significantly activated. Therefore, the removal of toxins, cell renewal, and tissue regeneration are accelerated. The mucous membrane becomes more resistant to viruses and infections, immunity increases.
After all, breastfeeding saves the family budget, which is especially true for young families, while good formula milk is quite expensive.

Breastfeeding problems

In fairness, it should be noted that there are pros and cons of breastfeeding. The latter include the following issues.

Violation of feeding technique can lead to cracked nipples.
If the baby does not fully suck out the breast, mastitis may occur.
An increase in endorphin and prolactin levels leads to drowsiness, decreased memory and concentration.
It is impossible to leave the baby for a long time, since the breaks between feedings are relatively small.
All the time you have to control and limit your mother's diet. Some medications should not be used during lactation.

As you can see, the cons of breastfeeding are much less of a list than the benefits of breastfeeding. In addition, some of these problems can be avoided with the proper organization of the regimen and feeding technique. You can also seek help from a lactation consultant. Of course, each woman independently decides how to feed the baby. But the main factor in this should be taking care of the growth and development of the child, and breastfeeding provides this most effectively.