Breastfeeding isn’t only good for the baby, it’s also good for the mother. Breastfeeding is an unequalled way of providing ideal food for the healthy growth and development of infants. According to the World Health Organization, exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is the optimal way of feeding infants.
Below are 8 wonderful benefits of breastfeeding
1. LONG-TERM PROTECTION OF YOUR BABY
Your baby will be protected from developing chronic conditions such as type 1 diabetes and Crohn’s disease if you breastfeed your baby.
2. REDUCE THE BABY’S CHANCES OF BEING OBESE
Your baby’s chances of becoming obese is reduced if you breastfeed your baby. Your chances of being an obese mother is reduced too if you breastfeed your baby.
3. LOWERS YOUR RISK OF CANCER
Breastfeeding your baby reduces your risk of premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
4. COST EFFECTIVE
Breastfeeding is cost effective as you don’t pay to get the milk flowing from your breasts. According to La Leche League International, the cost of formula ranges between $134 to $491 monthly. Imagine the amount of money you get to save if you breastfeed.
5. BREASTFED BABIES ARE HEALTHIER
Babies who are breastfed are healthier and have lower incidences of pneumonia, cold and viruses.
6. DELAYED OVULATION
When you exclusively breastfeed your baby, you delay ovulation which means menses is delayed. If you don’t want to get pregnant so soon after giving birth, breastfeeding can be an effective post-baby birth control option.
7. BREASTFEEDING HELPS MOTHERS HEAL QUICKER
When you breastfeed, you help your uterus return to its normal size quickly (6 weeks when you breastfeed compared to 10 weeks when you don’t breastfeed).
8. YOU BURN MORE CALORIES
If you really want to lose the pregnancy fat, you really need to breastfeed because you can burn up to 500 calories a day by breastfeeding your baby.
S.O.Z