The Many Benefits of Breastfeeding Your Baby
By Sarah Freeland
As most mothers are well aware, you should probably realize now that breast milk is one of the best things, that you can ever give your child. There have been many studies that have been taken place, to prove that breast feeding your infant has more benefits, that go beyond the basic nutritional needs of your child. In addition to containing all of the vitamins and nutrients that your child needs during the first six months of their life; breast milk is also packed full with disease fighting substances, that will help to protect your infant from illness. This of course is the reason that the American Academy of Pediatrics highly recommends; that you stay exclusive to breast feeding for the first six months of your child’s life. Not only is this beneficial for your child, but has been found to be extremely good for the mother’s health as well. In these next couple of articles we will explore the many benefits that breast feeding has, for both your child and yourself.
It has been proven that breast feeding can help to protect your child, from gastrointestinal and respiratory problems, as well as ear infections. There have been numerous studies that have been placed from around the world, and many have shown that diarrhea, lower respiratory illnesses, as well as ear infections happen less frequently in breast fed infants; and tend to be less severe when they do actually occur. Exclusive breast feeding (Exclusive meaning, that there is no solid food present in the child’s diet) for a minimum of six months, seems to offer the most protection for a child.
Many researchers have found that the immune factors; that are present in colostrum (The first milk in which your body will produce) help to guard against invading germs; by forming a protective layer on your child’s mucous membranes in his or her intestines, nose, and throat. It is thought that the most important immune factor that is set to work; is secretory IGA AKA Immunoglobulin A. This factor is present in massive amounts in colostrum, which is why it is exceedingly important to start your nursing directly after your child is born, however is also found in lower amounts in your mature breast milk. It has also been found that breast feeding may also protect your child from developing inflammatory bowel disease later in their life; there have been studies that have documented a link between a lack of breast feeding during infancy, and development of Crohn’s disease as well as ulcerative colitis later on in life. As you can see there are many benefits to breast feeding, the list and studies continue on for miles. In the next segment of this article, we will continue to explore the many benefits of breast feeding. Remember that once you have finished reading these articles, to take a browse around the site; you may be surprised about what you may find, to keep your breast feeding rock star in alternative style.
At least one of the studies that was preformed; has found that this protection appears to last well into a child’s adolescence. While another found that pre-term infants from families with a history of allergies, had shown to have a lower risk of developing eczema; as opposed to their formula fed peer group. Another study that was preformed found that exclusive breast feeding for at least the first four months after your child’s birth can reduce the risk of the child developing asthma by age six years. It is speculated by scientists, that the fatty acids and immune factors (Such as Iga) within the breast milk helps to prevent allergic reactions; by stopping large foreign proteins from getting into your child’s system. While the proteins found in cows milk, are one of the largest and most common of allergies. Which is one of the reasons that children who are fed cow milk based formula’s tend to have more allergic reactions, than breast fed infants.
It is also speculated that breast feeding may help to boost your child’s intelligence. During several studies they have found a possible connection between breast feeding an infant, and a higher IQ. Most experts seem to say that these infants who are breast fed for a minimum of six months or more; seem to have the highest advantage. This is to also include experts speculating that the emotional bonding that takes place, during breast feeding; may also help to contribute to the increase in IQ along with the fatty acids which play the largest role in your child’s brain development. Along with all of the allergy and illness protection as well as the boosted IQ; breast feeding has been known to protect your child against obesity later in their life. However this subject has been a matter of debate for quite some time. It was in May two thousand and five, in which after conducting a review of sixty one studies that were related to infant feeding and later obesity, researchers have finally concluded that early breast feeding; is in fact linked to a reduced risk of obesity, however all agree that further study is necessary to determine exactly how strong the link is between the two. They tend to think that breast feeding may affect later weight gain for several of the following reasons; breast fed infants are generally better at regulating their feedings, which can lead to healthier eating patterns while they grow. Along with the fact that breast milk contains less insulin than any type of formula (Insulin is known to stimulate the creation of fat). It is also known that a breast fed infant has more of a protein hormone called leptin within their system. Which is a substance that many researchers believe plays a vital role in regulating appetite and fat. It has also been proven that a formula fed infant will gain weight more rapidly within the first weeks of their life, which is then associated with obesity later in life.
The studies that have been preformed have shown that it can lower a child’s risk of developing both acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemia. While scientists don’t know exactly how breast feeding your child reduces this risk of childhood cancers, however they speculate that antibodies contained in breast milk may help to give a child’s immune system a boost. However research into this question is continuously ongoing.
Breast feeding is also speculated to protect an infant from developing type one diabetes. It has shown that partaking in breast feeding for more than the minimum of six months; appears to reduce the child’s risk of developing insulin dependent (aka type one) diabetes. While in one study it was found that children who were breast fed for less than three months, and then later exposed to cows milk prior to four months, had about one point five times the risk of developing this disease. However it is not yet clear how breast milk protects against the disease, but it is speculated that the immune factors present in breast milk play a major role.
It is also known that participating in breast feeding a premature infant, may help protect them from infections as well as high blood pressure later in life. Breast milk would seem to offer that extra special boost of protection, that premature babies need. One study had found that very low birth weight infants nourished by breast milk, had fewer and less serious blood infections , as well as meningitis than their formula fed peers. While another had found that premature infants that were given breast milk were less likely to exhibit high blood pressure by the time they were in their teenage years.
SIDS (Sudden infant death syndrome) is something all parents fear, however it has been shown that breast feeding may lower your child’s risk. However there is no conclusive evidence that breast feeding does in fact reduce the risk of SIDS. This has been such since some studies have found a link of lowered rates of SIDS, while others have not. However what can be clear in all of our minds is that breast feeding can help prevent respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, that may be related to SIDS.
Not only is breast feeding great for your child, but it can be wonderful for you as well. Breast feeding your child has been proven to help mothers shed those pounds more quickly, especially during the first year. This is due to the fact that your body burns calories while it produces breast milk. It has also been known to help lower stress levels, and reduce post partum bleeding in new mothers. This is because nursing triggers the natural release of a hormone oxytocin within your body, which means you will be more likely to feel relaxed during the breast feeding process. With numerous studies in animals as well as humans, researchers have found that oxytocin helps to promote nurturing as well as relaxation. One study had found that a woman who had high amounts of oxytocin in her system (fifty percent of breast feeding mothers compared to eight percent of bottle feeding mothers) had shown a lower blood pressure after being asked to speak about a stressful personal problem. It is this hormone (Oxytocin) which also helps your uterus contract back to the size it is normally after birth, which will result in less postpartum bleeding.
It has also been shown that Breast feeding may reduce your risk of some cancers as well as osteoporosis. So as you can see there are many benefits, that not only help your child; but yourself as well.
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