The idea of using the bottle in place of breastfeeding would definitely be unusual eighty years ago! However, now women have to be persuaded away from using the bottle, and take to breast-feeding.
Factors such woman wanting to pursue their career shortly after giving birth; the onset of pain when feeding; or not having the confidence to preserver with breast-feeding have contributed to this decline.
Many Medical experts have always encouraged mothers to breast-feed. They have identified a whole host of benefits in terms of health, intelligence and emotional for both the mother and child.
Benefits to the Mother
- It’s convenient and cheaper for your budget.
- It helps you to loose excess weight.
- Suckling produces Oxytocin, which causes the womb to contract to its pre-birth size.
- The risk of producing breast cancer is reduced, which is further reduced for every child that is breast feed and the longer the period of breastfeeding.
Benefits to the Child
- Breast fed babies are at an advantage, since suckling strengthens their jaws and aids in their transition from milk to solids. It also aids in their speaking.
- Breast milk is healthier! Colostrum (the first type of milk produced by the breast) is packed with rich nutrients, protein and antibodies acting as a boost for the child’s underdeveloped immune system.
- Antibodies which formula milk is void of, offer protection from infections.
- Breast milk is higher in vitamin D and E and research has shown that breast milk is two and a half times more effective in preventing rickets.
- Breast milk contains more minerals; some of these are not found in formula milk, such as selenium and chromium. Selenium is an essential immune booster, whilst Chromium helps maintain a balance in the blood sugar levels. Minerals such as calcium, iron, zincand Manganese from breast milk are more absorbable than those in formula milk.
- Unlike formula milk, breast milk helps to establish healthy gut bacteria such as Bifido. These bacteria safeguard the baby’s digestive tract from harmful invading bacteria and inhibit the development of colic and eczema.
- obesity is less common in breast-fed babies compared to their formula fed counterparts.
- Breast milk makes brainier babies! Higher levels of the fat DHA, essential in developing the brain, are found in breast milk. Research has shown breast fed babies score 6-10 points higher in IQ tests than their formula fed counterparts.
