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Tiny toes; tiny lips. The little fat rolls down the thighs. Oh, the smell of a newborn’s head. It is enough to make any mother start leaking breastmilk. Add in a crying baby, and there could be a need to change bras. While funny, that is not the overall point. The message is that breastfeeding is normal, right, and needed for the highest quality of infant development. Any mother who has lactated can understand that the body is meant to feed the baby.
Mothers all understand that breasts make milk, but many choose to dry their breasts out and reach for formula instead. There is no shame in doing so. There is, however, a list of reasons that new mothers should at least attempt breastfeeding their newborns.
It’s almost magic; a body grows and births a baby, and then as the hat trick, it produces the perfect food to nourish this baby.
Some people may believe that the magic ends here, but what so many do not know is that breastmilk increases the positive development of infants. This does not mean that a formula-fed baby will not thrive, but it does mean that breastmilk is the perfect food for babies. No, breastfeeding will not make a child a genius or prevent them from suffering from a horrible disease, but it will lay the foundation for a strong immune system and increased IQ.
That’s right, breastfeeding is linked to children whose IQ scores range 7-10 points higher than children who are not breastfed as infants. The longer a baby is breastfed, the greater the effects are. What else is breastfeeding linked to?
- Exclusive breastfeeding produces better brain development, meaning that an infant breastfed for the first three months of life without supplementing with formula acquires enhanced development in crucial parts of the brain. These children have pronounced growth in brain areas associated with language, emotional function, and cognition.
- Breastfed babies are nursed often because breastmilk is digested faster than formula. This means that they are more likely to be held longer and more frequently, increasing the firing of neurons in the brain and strengthening the maternal bond and feeling of security for the infant. This time is linked to future positive self-confidence, independence, and happiness.
- Breastmilk provides the five basic antibodies: IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD and IgE with IgA being the most abundant. IgA is found throughout the gut and respiratory system of adults. In real words, this means that mothers produce the antibodies needed to strengthen and protect the body from illness.
- The antibodies produced in breastmilk are created in response to the pathogens in the mother’s environment. This ensures that the baby obtains the protection against anything harmful possibly trying to invade the immune system. The best part is that these antibodies ignore the good bacteria of the gut, helping to strengthen the body and not weaken it.
- As infants grow, their immune systems become stronger, but exclusive breastfeeding provides the foundation of a strong immune system. Breastfeeding decreases chances of:
- Ear Infections
- Pneumonia, Colds and Viruses
- Diarrhea and Constipation
- Baby’s risk of some childhood cancers
Breastfeeding decreases the risks of all of the above, and it also increases the chances of happiness for both mother and child. Although nursing can be challenging in the beginning, the benefits far outweigh the struggles with most women. The beauty, too, is that research shows breastfed children are not in competition with other children, but are only bettering themselves by nursing. Every infant is born with specific capabilities, and breastfeeding is a huge way to aid a baby in maximizing those capabilities.
Did you know that breastmilk changes as a baby changes? This is more than flavors for the developing taste buds; this includes producing fattier milk if needed. It can change in composition throughout the day, every day to meet the exact needs of the growing baby. These needs are important to understand, as each one links to increasing development within the infant. Emotional, physical, and mental needs trigger different responses from the baby, and the mother’s body responds to these signals and creates the perfect meal to help balance the infant and support overall health.
Things to Remember:
A healthy mother is important when breastfeeding. Consuming whole foods and high quality supplements will ensure proper amounts of vitamins and minerals reach the baby through the breastmilk. Researchers have discovered pesticides (such as round up) in breastmilk; limiting or avoiding processed foods, and eating as organic as possible will help keep breastmilk as pure as possible.
Attending La Leche League meetings and working with a lactation consultant can fix a troubled breastfeeding relationship and build a strong start to a long nursing journey.
About the Author
Elizabeth MacDonald, a creative content writer at My Baby’s Heartbeat Bear, a brand that makes recordable stuffed animals, the best pregnancy gift, to record your baby’s ultrasound heartbeat. With wine in hand, Elizabeth tries to find the positives hidden in the messes of parenthood. There never seem to be enough hours in the day, but filling the minutes with memorable moments keeps her smiling. Also read her pregnancy blog