What are several benefits of breastfeeding?

Answer 1

Mothers milk have natural anti-biotics, also I think it helps to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy

Answer 2

Rapid bonding between mother and child

Continued uterine contractions which assists in losing mommy tummy more quickly than without breastfeeding

No need to make forumula or warm bottles

Baby's bowel movements are far less 'odourful' than a formula fed baby

Travel with baby is much more convenient and less to prepare

While out and about you don't need to rush home to feed baby, everything you need is with you at all times

No chance of baby being tucked into bed to sleep with a bottle night after night, therefore no danger of damage to teeth when they do arrive

Breastfeeding moms normally regain their pre baby weight sooner than non breastfeeding moms

Breastfed babies are able to better fight colds, ear infections and other illnesses

Moms usually don't have a menses while breastfeeding which can go for as long as 9 mos to a year in absence

Breastfed babies are seldom over weight

Answer 3

Here are 101 one reasons to breastfeed, do you need more?
http://promom.org/101/index.html

Each backed by scientific studies.

Of course the obvious is that that is what babies are MEANT TO BE EATING.

Did I mention that breastmilk has more than 100 ingredients not found in formula. Do you think NONE of those are important? Just a few years ago there was no DHA in formula, it was always in breastmilk.

Answer 4

- saves money to breastfeed instead of buy formula
- strengthens the infant's immune system by providing antibodies
- reduces infant's risk of future obesity
- postpones the mother's returned fertility
- strengthens mother/baby bond
- breastfeeding increases levels of oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates uterine contractions, helping to expel the placenta, to minimize postpartum maternal blood loss, and to induce a more rapid uterine involution

Answer 5

http://medicalreporter.health.org/tmr0297/breastfeed0297.html

Go there and read it.
It's sooo good for both you and your baby. That's what your breasts are for, feeding your child.
It's the most nutritious way to feed your baby. It promotes bonding with mother and child.
Making and feeding the breastmilk takes a lot of energy, so it helps burn up that baby fat super fast. You'll lose weight so much more quickly.
It can help make baby smarter.
It can help reduce your risk of breast cancer.
It's soooooooo good for you both.
Read up. Educate yourself and do it.

Answer 6

Great question! The benefits are abundant...way too many to list here. These other ladies have given you some great websites, and here is my input:

COMPARISON OF BREASTMILK AND FORMULA

NUTRIENT – FATS:

BREASTMILK:
 Rich in brain-building omega 3's, namely DHA and AA.
 Automatically adjusts to infant's needs; levels decline as baby gets older
 Rich in cholesterol
 Nearly completely absorbed
 Contains fat-digesting enzyme, lipase

FORMULA:
 No DHA (some formulas do add it)
 Doesn't change
 No Cholesterol
 Not completely absorbed
 No lipase

Fat is the most important nutrient in breastmilk; absence of cholesterol and DHA, vital nutrients for growing brains and bodies, may predispose child to adult heart and central nervous system diseases. Leftover unabsorbed fat accounts for unpleasant stools in formula-fed babies.

NUTRIENT – PROTEIN:

BREASTMILK:
 Soft, easily-digestible whey
 More completely absorbed
 Lactoferrin for intestinal health
 Lysozyme, an antimicrobial
 Rich in brain and body-building protein components
 Rich in growth factors
 Contains sleep-inducing proteins

FORMULA:
 Harder to digest casein curds
 Less completely absorbed, more waste, harder on kidneys
 None or trace lactoferrin
 No lysozyme
 Deficient or lower in some
 Deficient in growth factors

Automatically adjusts to infant's needs. (e.g., higher in premature infant)

NUTRIENT – CARBOHYDRATES:

BREASTMILK:
 Rich in lactose
 Rich in oligosaccharides that promote intestinal health
FORMULA:
 Some formulas contain no lactose.
 Deficient in oligosaccaharides

Lactose is considered an important carbohydrate for brain development. Studies show the level of lactose in the milk of a species correlates with the size of the brain of that species.


NUTRIENT – IMMUNE BOOSTERS:

BREASTMILK:
 Rich in living white blood cells, millions per feeding
 Rich in immunoglobulins

FORMULA:
 No live white blood cells.
 Processing kills all cells. Dead food has less immunological benefit.
 Few immunoglubulins and mostly the wrong kind.

When mother is exposed to a germ, she makes antibodies to that germ and gives these antibodies to her infant via her milk.

NUTRIENT – VITAMINS AND MINERALS:

BREASTMILK:
 Better absorbed, especially iron, zinc, and calcium.
 Iron is 50-75% absorbed
 Contains more selenium (an antioxidant) than formula

FORMULA:
 Less absorbed
 Iron 5-10 percent absorbed

Vitamins and minerals in breastmilk enjoy a higher bioavailability; a greater percentage is absorbed. To compensate, more is added to formula, which makes it harder to digest.

NUTRIENT – ENZYMES AND HORMONES:

BREASTMILK:
 Rich in digestive enzymes, such as lipase and amylase.
 Rich in many hormones: thyroid, prolactin, oxytocin, and over fifteen others.

FORMULA:
 Processing kills digestive enzymes
 Processing kills hormones, which are not human, anyway

Digestive enzymes promote intestinal health. Hormones contribute to the overall biochemical balance and well-being of baby.

TASTE:

BREASTMILK:
Varies with mother's diet

FORMULA:
Always tastes the same

By taking on the flavor of mother's diet, breastmilk shapes the tastes of the child to family foods.

COST:

BREASTMILK:
$600 a year, extra food for mother

FORMULA:
Around $1,200 per year for formula; up to $2,500 a year for hypoallergenic formulas; plus cost of bottles, etc.; plus lost income when baby is ill

Breastfeeding families save $600 to $2,000 a year, and often much more in medical bills since baby stays healthier; and employed breastfeeding mothers miss less work.

Answer 7

Here's 101 of them, if that isn't enough for you:

http://www.promom.org/101/

Answer 8

I think ONE of the best things is that if your baby is cranky, put them to the breast and VIOLA (did i spell that correctly?) happy baby again!