Benefits of Breast Milk for Your Baby

The nursing Breastfeeding is very important for the health of both mother and baby and should last, if possible, at least six months. Breast milk contains practically everything in every single feeding: initially watery, it then becomes loaded with sugars, proteins, and fats (in fact, it eventually turns white). Then there are micronutrients, immunoglobulins, prolactin, and oxytocin.

Index of topics

Feeding time

Breastfeeding is good, very good.And luckily for us, Italian mothers have understood this: with almost ninety percent of Infants At least one attempt is made, although only 42 percent of women manage to breastfeed for four to six months. This is higher in the North (50 percent) than in the South (39,4 percent), which, as usual, is penalized by the gaps in the national health system and the poor care new mothers receive, especially in terms of valuable information and prevention. What happens after childbirth, in fact, is crucial: if the newborn is attached to the breast of the mum, within three hours of birth, it is very likely that this healthy, vital habit, which should not be wasted, will continue for a long time.

Benefits

Il breast milk, and it is something scientifically proven, not an urban legend, it is an elixir of long life. Natural breastfeeding, in fact, reduces the risk of some pathologies, even serious ones, for women., as the breast cancer, diabetes andhypertension and as for the neonate, from the first day he is breastfed, For him, the risks of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, obesity or overweight and even celiac disease collapse.. In the face of so many benefits, unfortunately we must take note that In Italy, nine out of ten mothers try to breastfeed after giving birth, but only four out of ten manage to get to the fourth month.Why? The reasons that lead to stopping breastfeeding can be varied, from lack of support (if not hostility) from one's partner to the need to return to work or even to avoid losing one's job. This is why it is important to remember well, almost to engrave in one's mind, the benefits of breast milk for children. Infants and help women breastfeed naturally as much as possible.

Research on the benefits of breast milk conducted at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology of the National Research Council in Valencia has also highlighted that breast milk is more nutritious if the mother is of normal weight and gives birth naturally.

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In particular, researchers found that breast milk is richer in good bacteria if the mum She has a normal weight. Conversely, research shows that overweight women and those who have given birth by cesarean section produce milk that is lower in bacteria that are beneficial for the baby.

The composition of breast milk therefore also varies depending on the type of birth. It all depends on the different hormonal balance of the body at the time of the baby's birth. These are important data to consider since The bacterial composition of breast milk influences the correct development of the baby's immune system.

An important role is played by Bacillus bifidus, a friendly bacterium that controls the growth and concentration of other bacteria in the intestine. It is precisely this bacterium that develops in the right concentrations in the intestines of breastfed babies.

Breast milk is very rich in water (87 percent), vitamins, mineral salts, sugars such as lactose (7 percent), fats (3,8 percent), proteins (1 percent): all elements useful for the baby's growth.

Benefits for children and mothers

As known, Breast milk is important for the growth and development of the newbornIt contains important antibodies and enzymes that improve your baby's health. Not only that, it's immediately digestible and always at the ideal temperature for your baby.

Benefits of breastfeeding for the baby

Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from pneumonia, asthma, gastrointestinal infections, and ear infections than formula-fed babies. The risks of allergies and obesity. Furthermore, the milk Maternal breastfeeding protects the newborn from infectious diseases, reduces the risk of obesity and allergies, and also has beneficial effects on intellectual development. Furthermore, and importantly, it costs nothing, unlike breastfeeding. milk in powder about which there is much speculation.

Benefits of breastfeeding for mothers

The benefits of breastfeeding are not only for the baby but also for the new mother. Breastfeeding allows a woman to regain her physical fitness more quickly and reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis and some forms of cancer, such as breast and uterine cancer. Last but not least, it reduces the risk of postpartum depression.

Not to mention the enormous common benefit for mum and child: breastfeeding in fact promotes the mother-child bond strengthening their need to be together.

Breastfeeding is good for the brain

Natural breastfeeding, from the breast of the mum, is also very good for the child's brain. A Brazilian study published in The LancetGlobal Health, with which 3.500 babies were monitored over a period of thirty years. Researchers at the University of Pelotas They wanted to determine the differences between breastfeeding women and those forced to settle for formula. Their conclusion, over a thirty-year period, was that the breastfeeding group had an IQ four points higher than the formula-fed group, achieved better academic results, and earned higher salaries throughout their working lives.

Breast milk and oxytocin

Oxytocin is an essential hormone for breastfeeding, primarily because it facilitates the expulsion of milk from the milk ducts. It also plays a key role in the involution of the uterus and its return to pre-pregnancy normality. Finally, more recent studies indicate that higher levels of oxytocin in the mother's blood are linked to lower levels of anxiety.

When you breastfeed you burn calories

Breastfeeding requires a significant calorie burn: producing 750 grams of milk requires burning 560 calories. Therefore, breastfeeding is also a good diet for mothers. A woman loses about five kilos after giving birth and one to two kilos per month thereafter. However, each body has its own specific reaction.

How long should you breastfeed?

The World Health Organization considers breastfeeding one of the primary objectives of public health worldwide. And for this reason it recommends moms to continue breastfeeding for at least six months. And with some precautions:

Don't give your baby anything other than breast milk. Not even water.
As a mother, do not deprive yourself of any food and therefore eat freely.
However, avoid alcohol and smoking.
Do not wash your breasts before and after each feeding
Manage night feedings by placing the baby in the room with mom and dad

What should breast milk contain?

There are some key substances that make a difference in favor of breast milk. For example:

Micronutrients which include salts, minerals and vitamins, very useful for the vital functions of the baby
Immunoglobulins that prevent viral, bacterial and fungal infections
Prolactin stimulates the production of milk from the breasts and keeps the ovary at rest.
Oxytocin facilitates the expulsion of milk and the involution of the uterus to allow a return to pre-pregnancy normality

Breast milk for children going to kindergarten

If your very young child is already attending nursery school and breastfeeding, it is advisable to pay attention to some things when expressing milk at home:

Collect in each container only as much milk as needed for one feeding;
Cool down the container by holding it under running water, before placing it in the refrigerator;
Label each container with the date and time of collection, the name and surname of the child and mother;
Keep in mind that milk can be stored for up to 4 hours at a temperature below 25 degrees; up to 24 hours at a temperature below 15 degrees; and for a maximum of 3-6 months in the freezer.

Breast milk: benefits and advantages for the baby