what are the health benefits of breast feeding a child?

Answer 1

The baby is less likely to die of SIDS. She/he will be healthier overall, be less likely to be hospitalized, and have fewer ear infections, stomach upsets, respiratory infections, etc. It also provides lifelong protection from allergies, asthma, diabetes, many forms of cancer (including breast cancer for girl babies, Hodgkin's Disease, and childhood leukemia), and Crohn's Disease. They are less likely to be obese later in life.

A baby who is exclusively breastfed for at least 7 months has a lower likelihood of being anemic at 1 and 2 years old (see sources section below). Baby is protected from childhood diseases that the mother is immune to and responds better to vaccinations.

Breastfed babies spend less time crying. (Crying alone can cause brain damage and failure to thrive--see below.)

Children who were breastfed as babies have higher IQs and learn better in school.

Mothers who breastfeed have lower incidences of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer and osteoporosis. Diabetic mothers often require less insulin. Women with some other chronic illnesses also have a partial remission or improvement in their symptoms. Your uterus will return to a non-pregnant state more quickly, so you lose less blood. That, plus the fact that most women have 6-12 months with no period means you are less likely to be anemic.

Mothers and babies bond more easily with breastfeeding. There is some evidence that breastfed babies are less likely to be abused.

Answer 2

Breast milk contains all the antibodies from the mother and so protects the baby up until it can develop its own immunity. It also contains all the right nutrients to help the baby grow. Not all mothers or babies find breast feeding easy and it can be a big strain on the mother as no one else can help with the feeds even if expressed as some babies wont drink from bottles if breast fed.

Answer 3

I think a huge benefit of breast feeding is that you pass on your antibodies through the breast milk which help the baby stay healthy. This is especially beneficial when it comes time time to go to daycare. I think the other great benefit of breastfeeding is that it is a huge bonding opportunity for the mother and child. I can't imagine feeling any closer than I did when breastfeeding my daughter. It was good for both of us!

Answer 4

tons. the baby has better cognitive development, and a better immune system. some of the long term benefits are that a child is less likely to be obese or overweight the longer that they are breastfeed. some studies have also shown a lower chance of developing cancers like leukemia.

your uterus after having the baby gets smaller faster. it is cheaper and alot more convenient than making a bottle with formula. I would make sure I had a towel with you in public, there is a bit of controversy about it, but I did it with a blanket over us. You personally will burn alot more calories than if you didn't breastfeed.

I loved the bonding and closeness that breastfeeding brought between my children and me. When you are breastfeeding it also helps you to relax and have quiet time after the baby is born.

I did a study on it, and I breastfeed two kids of my won.

Answer 5

hi, i think the answer has been given... but if you do decide to breast feed... find a person who specialises in the subject in your area!!! this is really important!!! i know so many women who have had a hard time with it, and expert advise would have saved them alot of trouble and discomfort. (the mid wife is not an expert, nor is the health visitor)
i didn't have an expert available so followed the following mantra... any pain or hard lumps - express immediately massaging troubled area until it is free of lump, massaging lumps out when baby is feeding also helps - just make sure you're not expressing all your milk and there not being anything left for the baby!!!. also watch your diet - onions for example give colic... with my baby i found anything nutty or beans gave colic also, and salmon gave her mild conjunctivitis.
be prepared for the first couple of months being really difficult... but after that it gets really easy except for the brief growth spurts. also expect to feel very tired and drained particularly in the first couple of months... again it gets easier.
find books and web sites and read as much as possible. this also applies to the first year of the baby. so many changes and things going on, it is really good to have a book to read to understand and not to worry about things too much.

Answer 6

Three I can think of ...

Firstly you as the mother pass on helpful anti-bodies in
your milk that greatly help the baby form a healthy immune
system.

Secondly is the passing of the best nutrients in your milk.

Thirdly it is extremely helpful in the emotional growth of the
baby / infant, healthy attachments are more easily made.
( this is however only part of the equation to attachment,
see books by the likes of D. W. Winnacott and Alice Miller.
to go into depth on the emotional very important emotional
growth have a look at John Bowlby, Melanie Klien and other
books on a childs emotional and psychological development.

There are of course benefit to the mother as well but I am not sure if that is what you are asking ...

Answer 7

All the above but it is also cheaper and safer and quicker than bottle feeding in that you don't have to mess about making up formula and making sure the bottles are sterilised. Babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop infections.
I have also heard that babies get to experience different flavours and tastes through breast milk so they are less likely to be fussy with food in the future.
One of the best benefits to the mother is that it helps to lose excess weight put on during pregnancy.

Answer 8

There are endless health benefits for both you can your child. It's natural and it's talior-made specifically for that individual child - you will make a different brew for your next child and so on. It truely is the best thing you could give your baby.

Synthetic powdered milks are made from cows milk. There are so many children becoming intollerant to milk/dairy that they are considering changing the recommended age for giving normal milk from 1 year to 5 years! So why give a baby cows milk? It's harder for them to digest, you're more likely to have problems with collic etc.

GO WITH BREAST - IT TRUELY IS BEST

Answer 9

Breastfeeding is appropriate -- it is accessible, loose, and maximum nutritious for toddler. in case you need to formulation feed, even if, do no longer enable human beings make you experience undesirable. you need to do what's appropriate on your toddler and also you! If mom isn't chuffed, the toddler really can't be. My sturdy chum presently stopped breastfeeding her 4-month-previous because she has notably undesirable PPD and it develop into making her experience tied down. She breastfed her first son and feels badly that the toddler isn't getting any better breastmilk. Breastfeeding for even some days is tremendous. attempt it and be conscious the way it is going for you. I breastfed my daughter for 7 months. I went lower back to artwork feet at the same time as she develop into 10 weeks previous and that i develop right into a terrible pumper. i ought to pump for my finished 50 minute planning era and easily get perchance one ounce. :( It develop into very problematical. I nonetheless pumped each day to save up my milk provide and that i breastfed my daughter each and each and every time we were at homestead. She develop into very colicky so at daycare, i ought to blend my breastmilk with Nutramigen or Alimentum in a Avent bottle. I had a converter bottle proper for the breastpump to in good structure the Avent bottles. My daughter has done significantly better having been breastfed than ought to formulation. when you're waiting to breastfeed, I quite recommend it.

Answer 10

babies aren't born with natural immunities so breastfeeding provides them with antibodies to combat illness and infection. so babies who are breastfed are less likely to become ill with colds ect...i know there are some advantages for women but the one i've found best is that i am now slimmer than i was before pregnancy. i'm still not skinny but i'm happy with my figure. i managed to loose about half a stone! also i'm not going crazy by constantly having to sterilise bottles i can just relax and breastfeed, much more satisfying once you get the hang of it!