What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding?
Parents tend to want to do what is best for their children, including breastfeeding their infants. While it can be uncomfortable to do in a public setting, the bond between child and mother grows tremendously when the baby
What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding?
Parents tend to want to do what is best for their children, including breastfeeding their infants. While it can be uncomfortable to do in a public setting, the bond between child and mother grows tremendously when the baby eats from its mother's breast. In addition to strengthening the bond between parent and child, there are many medical benefits associated with breastfeeding. Discover now some of the medical benefits of breastfeeding your baby, such as:
- protection against gastrointestinal trouble
- protection against allergies
- increased intelligence in the child
Research studies have found that the first milk your body produces contains immune factors that guard against germs by forming a protective lining on your baby's mucous membranes in the intestines, throat, and nose. This is why it is important for a mother to start nursing her child directly after birth.
Breastfeeding your baby helps protect your infant child from gastrointestinal trouble as well as respiratory problems and ear infections. Many research studies have been conducted around the world and have concluded fewer diarrheas, less ear infections, and fewer respiratory illnesses in children who have been breastfed. Women involved in the research studies breastfed their babies exclusively for at least the first six months. This means the baby consumed breast milk only, no solid food.
Many research studies have also found that breastfeeding exclusively for at least six months can reduce the chances of the child developing allergies. At least one research study has proven that this lasts up into the age of adolescence. Breastfed babies are also at less risk of developing asthma up to the average age of 6.
In addition to the above research studies, other studies have been conducted and have found possible links b