the benefits of breastfeeding
More than 60 percent of new mothers in the United States are choosing to breastfeed — up 10 percent from lows in the early 1970s. In the Pacific Northwest, numbers are even greater, with estimates at 77 percent.
It’s widely known that breastfeeding is a natural, nutritional way to contribute to a child’s development. Colostrum, the fluid secreted the first few days after delivery, and breast milk provide newborns with protection against bacteria and viruses and offer essential nutrients that can lessen problems such as ear infections and diarrhea.
What a new mother may not know, however, is that breastfeeding offers other benefits to both her baby and her body.
Some benefits of breastfeeding identified in medical research include:
- A decrease in the risk of breast cancer. This may be due to the lower levels of estrogen in a woman’s body while breastfeeding. Such benefits are related to the total amount of time a mother breastfeeds.
- Protection for the mother against osteoporosis in later life.
- A form of natural contraception if breastfeeding is frequent and prolonged. Wall adds that the use of other contraceptive devices is still recommended.
- The enhancement of psychomotor and mental development of children.
- Decreased instance of malocclusion (improper bite) in children when breastfed properly.
These are not the only positive aspects of breastfeeding. Adding it saves time and money when compared to preparing and buying bottled formulas. Losing weight gained during pregnancy can also be easier for mothers who breastfeed, since fat reserves created during that time aid in milk production. And the growing acceptance of breastfeeding by society has helped make things easier for working mothers, with some companies now offering private rooms with breast pumps for employees.