Why Should You Breastfeed Your Baby

Best for Baby
A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. Breast milk has agents (called antibodies) in it to help protect infants from bacteria and viruses and to help them fight off infection and disease. Human milk straight from the breast is always sterile.

Best for Mom
Breastfeeding saves times and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula, and there are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night. Breastfeeding also helps a mother bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted. Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds gained from pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size more quickly and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth. Breastfeeding also may lower the risk of breast and ovarian cancers.

tags: babyblog, parenting, baby, pregnancy, childbirth, newborn, infant

Comments

[Christine Albury]

It's also important to remember that, after introducing solids, breastmilk is still the only fluid your baby needs. Many of my visitors write to ask when they should introduce water or juice to their babies - both are unnecessary to a breastfed infant, who is receiving everything he/she needs from breastmilk... even in very hot conditions. This is, of course, assuming that baby is being nursed frequently and on demand.