Breast milk is the best and most natural food for your baby. Its unique components, such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and even stem cells, are precisely tailored to your baby and provide optimal nutrition. The composition even adapts to your baby's changing needs. So, you could say: breast milk is a true superfood. But did you know that breast milk not only has numerous benefits for your baby, but that you also benefit from breastfeeding? In the following article, we'll show you the incredible advantages breastfeeding brings for your health and that of your baby.
Breastfeeding creates closeness and strengthens the bond with your child
In the first few days and weeks, you'll spend a lot of time cuddling with your baby; you'll get to know each other and enjoy the closeness. When you have direct skin-to-skin contact with your baby, your body releases the love or cuddle hormone "oxytocin." This same hormone is also released when your baby suckles at the breast. Oxytocin is a true secret weapon. The hormone prevents further blood loss in the first few days after birth, thereby reducing the risk of you suffering from anemia caused by iron deficiency. Likewise, the release of oxytocin during breastfeeding strengthens the bond with your baby. High oxytocin levels in your body help you suffer less from anxiety and depression. Your blood pressure and stress levels will lower, and your pain threshold will even be raised!
Benefits of breastfeeding for your health
Especially in the beginning, if you breastfeed your baby early and frequently, this stimulates the contraction of your uterus. Later on, it also helps support and accelerate the involution of your uterus. The longer you breastfeed, the more benefits you get for your health. Breastfeeding protects you from various diseases in the long term. For example, it reduces your lifelong risk of heart disease or type 2 diabetes. Breastfeeding also reduces the likelihood of developing various types of cancer, such as breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer.
When you're breastfeeding, you burn up to 500 more calories per day. That's roughly equivalent to an hour of cycling or a 5-mile run. These extra calories can help you lose weight. Or you can simply treat yourself to an extra slice of cake.
You can continue to reap the benefits of breastfeeding later in life. It improves your bone mineralization, making you less likely to suffer from osteoporosis or fractures in old age.
Breastfeeding is unbeatably practical
No matter where or when: your milk is always there, in the right amount and at the right temperature. Preparing, heating, and transporting formula is no longer necessary. This saves you enormous effort, especially at night, as you can feed your baby while lying down. This way, you can cuddle a little, and the released oxytocin helps you both fall asleep more quickly. The financial benefits of breastfeeding shouldn't be underestimated either, as you don't have to spend money on formula.
Health benefits for your baby
Breast milk as a natural defense
Breast milk is your baby's most natural defense. Breast milk provides your baby with its first immunization to support its defense against disease. The thousands of nutrients in breast milk protect your baby from ear infections, diarrhea, lower respiratory tract infections, and even type 1 diabetes. It also reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Your breast milk also contains stem cells. Stem cells are truly multitalented: They can transform into other body cells and thus function as an internal repair system.
Breast milk as medicine
Especially for premature babies, breast milk is medicine and therefore indispensable. It offers the best protection against diseases such as sepsis, chronic lung disease, or necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The earlier your baby is born, the more nutritious and fat-rich your breast milk will be, so it can support your baby's optimal growth.
Antibodies in breast milk
Of course, it happens from time to time that your baby gets sick. But even in these cases, breast milk provides optimal support. Your body then adapts to the components of breast milk by adding more antibodies, which help your baby recover more quickly. Breastfeeding also has a calming and comforting effect.
Your baby benefits from breast milk not only during the first six months. Several advantages also become apparent later in life. Breastfed children are less likely to develop cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Furthermore, your baby's risk of obesity, type 1 diabetes, and allergies in adulthood is reduced. Oxytocin, a well-known hormone, also has positive effects later in life. The strengthened bond created by lots of cuddling has a positive impact on future relationships and can even help your child cope better with stress.
Breastfeeding and your baby's brain development
The brain is the fat-richest organ in the body. In the first six months, your baby goes through many developmental phases, which naturally also affect the brain. During this time, the brain mass nearly doubles. By two years, it has even reached almost 80% of its full size. Your breast milk contains important fatty acids that promote optimal brain development. For example, the brain of a breastfed baby contains 20 to 30% more white matter, which connects the brain areas, than that of formula-fed babies.
Always seek medical advice
Important note: This article contains only general information and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. It is not a substitute for a consultation with a doctor.
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