World Breastfeeding Week 2019: Here Is How Breast Milk Helps You & The Baby

Breastfeeding is a wondrous experience for women as she is the one nurturing the child for its future to come. In the initial six months determines the good possible health, biological process and mental effect for the baby. Breast milk consists of all the essential nutrition necessary for your baby in the first six months of their life.

Dr. Aruna Kalra, Gynaecologist and Director of CK Birla Hospital at Gurgaon, shared with HerZindagi that the milk here is also laden with an entire range of disease-fighting portion that keeps your baby from falling ill. Breastfeeding should be commenced as the baby is born, in order for the feeding to benefit the child completely.

Feeding should continue for a minimum of six months until other foods are introduced in the baby’s diet. Breastfeeding is of utmost importance for both the mother and her child. Below are the signs mentioned that you should pay heed to which could mean that it is time for breastfeeding:

• Agitation
• Constantly sticking their tongue out
• Cooing for a long time
• Sucking on their lips
• Regularly pitting their hands in their mouth
• Starting to cry all of a sudden

Colostrum is the initial nutrient a mother forms in her breasts. It is a gluey, yellowish liquid that aids the baby to figure a fortified immune system, containing antibodies and white blood cells. Colostrum also resources to form an insensitive membrane around your baby’s belly; intestines to keep bugs from causing illness and infections. Also working as laxative colostrum assists your baby in excreting meconium, the dark first stool. Colostrum comprises a high amount of protein, salts, fats, and vitamins that helps the baby digest food with and conducts other bodily functions.

Breastfeeding has some particular rewards for the baby as stated:

• Breast milk is known to provide the babies with a decreased chance of any deficiency, obesity, and infection-related disease.
• This milk is produced sterile and at the optimum temperature
• Breastfed babies respond better to the vaccines given.
• Breast milk has the ability to limit diseases and other ailments among children.
• Breast milk supplies with the vital nourishment that helps strengthen and evolve the immune system in the best way possible.
• Helps develop the organs and other body parts.

Breastfeeding also has various benefits for a mother:

• Women lactating can strengthen their bones as they absorb calcium at a much higher rate during this time.
• Breastfeeding lets out the hormone oxytocin, that aids in your uterus returning to its pre-pregnancy size
• Aids in building a lasting connection with their child
• Limits the relative occurrence of postnatal emotional disorder
• Helps keep up the haemoglobin level.
• Helps to lose the pregnancy weight put on by you.

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• Breastfeeding helps lower the chance of breast cancer, diabetes, and hypertension in the time to come.
• It also acts like contraception as Menstruation ceases during the lactating period.
• Breastfeeding is natural and a learned activity for you and your baby.
• At times difficulty may arise but don’t waver to ask for help from your doctor or people experienced at it.

Studies and surveys have proved that babies who are breastfed generally have an improved and optimum development in relation to those who are fed over the counter milk and less breastfeed. Infants who are not breastfed are at an augmented risk of illness that can deform their growth and hike the risk of infection or disease.