Top 10 reasons to breastfeed your baby

🤱There are numerous reasons why breastfeeding is the optimal choice.  However, if you’re unable or choose not to breastfeed, it’s definitely ok! Whatever you decide to do, do it with no judgment.

Top 10 great reasons to breastfeed your baby:

1. Breastfeeding creates a unique bond between you and your baby! Being close to your baby’s needs makes you feel more confident and this helps you to deal better with the exhaustion from the newborn.
2. Breast milk is intestinal friendly and a natural antacid! It gets away from the stomach of the baby much faster than the formula. This means formula-fed infants have reflux episodes more often than breastfed babies.
3. It is so convenient! You can breastfeed anywhere at any time without preparations. Your milk is fresh and at the right temperature. You don’t need to boil water or sterilize bottles.
4. Mothers enjoy the relaxing effect of maternal hormones during breastfeeding. Whenever you breastfeed, oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone”, is released in your brain, and your baby’s brain too.
5. Breastfeeding provides protection to Moms. Research shows that breastfeeding can protect mothers from many diseases such as breast and ovarian cancer, diabetes & heart disease.
6. Breastfed babies are smarter. Various researchers have found a connection between breastfeeding and cognitive development. Studies concluded from IQ scores and other intelligence tests that prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding significantly improves cognitive development.
7. You get back in shape quickly! With breastfeeding, you tend to burn 300-500 calories per day on average. This may also have lasting effects on your weight.
8. Breast milk helps your baby fight off sickness and disease! After birth, the first milk your breasts make, which is called colostrum, stops harmful germs that can make your baby sick. Colostrum coats your baby’s digestive system so that germs have no place to grow. This protection is even more important if your baby is prematurely born. Your baby has fewer chances to have diarrhea, ear or lung infections, and being overweight or obese when it gets older.
9. You save some money! Breastfeeding could save you hundreds of dollars.
10. Breast milk contains nutrients that promote your baby’s brain development. It contains fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids (DHA), and ARA (arachidonic acid) which are vital for the development of nerve tissue. In addition, human milk contains an enzyme, which is called lipase, a substance that helps the body digest fat. This means that most of the fat goes to the baby’s body and not to the poop. Formulas cannot contain as many enzymes because they are destroyed during heat treatment. Breast milk also contains cholesterol, proteins, vitamins, minerals, iron, and antibodies (like natural antibiotics).

Breast milk is irreplaceable!

In the beginning, breastfeeding was so challenging for me. My nipples and my back hurt, and I was exhausted and sleepless. I was up to giving up, but eventually, I breastfed my daughter for her first year. If you are too tired to breastfeed your baby exclusively, you can think of using formula milk or a breast pump, so another caregiver (e.g., dad or grandma) can feed the baby, so you can take time off to get some rest. Both cow and goat milk formulas are highly nutritious and contain proteins, carbohydrates (lactose), fats, micro-nutrients (vitamins and minerals), and water.

However, goat’s milk formula is easier to digest and contains approximately 46% more vitamin A and 33% more magnesium than regular cow’s milk formula. Vitamin A is responsible for the development of the eyes and contributes to important functions in the body such as the immune system, bone growth, and the repair of muscle tissue. Magnesium plays an important role in nerve and muscle function and helps your baby build strong teeth and bones. Moreover, goat milk protein is lower in allergens.

How about you? Which was your favorite formula and why? Leave your comments below! 😊

Make informed choices about your baby’s nutrition, talk to our midwives or nutritionists about how to feed your baby, and eat a healthy, balanced diet in preparation for, and during, breastfeeding.

Attend our upcoming classes and remember that every mom has different difficulties to face, challenges, and problems to solve. You know better your priorities, whatever you decide to do, be nice to yourself! 🌸