Breast milk benefits
Human breast milk is tailor-made for a baby: it contains just the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins to sustain your growing baby.
© DK
Apart from its nutritional worth, breast-feeding makes sound sense for the following reasons:
- Breast-fed babies are less prone to illness than bottle-fed babies. There are fewer cases of gastroenteritis, chest infection, and measles and this is directly attributable to the antibodies that the baby receives. All babies receive some antibodies from their mother's placental blood, via the umbilical cord, but in the case of breast-fed babies these are supplemented by antibodies in both the colostrum and in the mother's milk.
In your baby's first few days of life they exert a protective influence on the intestine (reducing the likelihood of intestinal disturbance), and because they are also absorbed into the bloodstream they form part of the body's protection against infections. Some antibodies, such as those against poliomyelitis, are in the breast milk, so the mother can actively protect her newborn while he is breast-feeding. (The baby will still have to be immunized, however.)
- Breast milk is more easily, and quickly, digested than cow's milk. Breast-fed babies don't get constipated: they may pass stools infrequently but this is because the food is so efficiently and completely used up. The stools of breast-fed babies are soft and comparatively odourless, and they don't contain the bacteria that generally causes ammonia dermatitis, so these babies are less prone to nappy rash.
- Breast-fed babies rarely become overweight. Each baby has his own appetite and metabolic rate - it won't be the same as the baby next door, so don't worry if your baby is fatter or thinner than your neighbour's. He'll be the right weight for his own body.
- Breast-feeding is convenient. The milk is always at the right temperature, you don't have to waste your time sterilizing and making up bottles, and you save money by not having to buy all the equipment. Breast-fed babies have less wind, sleep longer, posset less and the posset smells less unpleasant.
- Breast-feeding is good for your figure. Research has shown that most of the fat that is gained in pregnancy is shed if a woman breast-feeds. During breast-feeding a hormone called oxytocin is released and this encourages the uterus to return to its normal size, as well as stimulating the production of milk (see colostrum).
Your pelvis returns to normal more quickly and so does your waistline. Contrary to popular belief, breast-feeding does not affect the shape or size of your breasts. They may get bigger, smaller, or sag after pregnancy, but changes are not contingent upon breast-feeding; they are due to being pregnant.
- Breast cancer is rarer in parts of the world where breast-feeding is traditional. Breast-feeding may provide some protection against the disease.
Breast-feeding and contraception
Because the hormone that activates milk production also suppresses ovulation, it is unlikely that you will conceive while breast-feeding. However, you should never rely on this as a means of contraception. See your doctor for advice.
Preparing to breast-feed
Ideally, try to decide whether or not you want to breast-feed your baby well before delivery so that you can plan for it.
If you are having your baby in hospital, tell the nursing staff as soon as you are admitted that you intend to breast-feed. Be assertive about asking for help from them. Ask to see the staff nurse or sister if necessary. Ask her to sit with you for an entire feed, and to give a running commentary of what you should and shouldn't be doing.
The best way to learn is to have someone who knows a lot about breast-feeding watching and encouraging you. Few women breast-feed without encountering any problems. So while you shouldn't expect to find it difficult, neither should you be surprised if you have a run of problems.
The thing to bear in mind is that most breast-feeding difficulties can be put right.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 30.06.2010
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