
Written by Bindu Raichura
Breastfeeding is absolutely a personal decision of each mother. But before deciding, it is essential to know and understand the abundant benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and the baby. Some new mothers are confused about the decision of whether to breastfeed or formula feed.
In this article, we shall discuss breastfeeding, identifying if your baby is hungry, and also the benefits of breastfeeding for the mother and the baby. Don’t forget to check out the tips for new breastfeeding mothers. So let us get started.
In This Article
Breastfeeding is a self-explanatory term. When a mother gets pregnant, she gets lactated and feeds her baby directly from her breast. In simple words, this is known as breastfeeding. Doctors recommend exclusively breastfeeding the baby until six months.
Colostrum is the first thick milk that your breast produces immediately after childbirth. It is often known as liquid gold for its yellow color. It only lasts from three to six days after the delivery, and then it changes into mature milk with a thin texture. Mature milk has the appropriate levels of all nutrients required for the healthy growth of your baby, while colostrum is rich in nutrients and contains antibodies that enhance the immunity of your baby. The following are some of the benefits of colostrum:
How to know if your baby is hungry? The obvious answer would be – the baby cries when they are hungry. But, there are many other signs to identify if your little one is hungry:
Breastmilk is the perfect mix of all the nutrients and is the best food for a baby. The following are some of the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby:
Breastfeeding not only helps the baby, but also is very helpful to the new mothers. Let us look at the top benefits of breastfeeding to mothers.
How long to breastfeed your baby depends upon the growth and the needs of your baby. In general, it is recommended by doctors to breastfeed for at least six months or 24 weeks. Some babies might not be ready for solids even after six months. In that case, you may continue to breastfeed the baby until they are ready for solids exclusively.
Even after the introduction of solids, your baby has to breastfeed. Their requirement for solids will be at a minimum, and breastmilk will still be the primary source of food for them. Until 12 months, you have to balance between breastfeeding and solids parallelly.
After one year, it is your personal choice to breastfeed or not. Continuing to breastfeed will help your child gain more nutrients and better immunity.
There is always a difference between natural milk and manufactured milk. Though formula feed is made with proper nutrients, it cannot be equal to breastmilk. Let us look at the differences between breastfeeding and formula feed:
Breastfeeding always has the upper hand over formula milk. But, in some cases, the babies may be lactose intolerant. In such a situation, formula milk comes as a savior to the babies. Similarly, if you are suffering from any disease, you will not be allowed to breastfeed the baby. At that point in time, your baby has to depend on formula feed.
If you are a new mother, keep in mind the following tips:
Breastfeeding is a beautiful phase that every mother should experience. The health benefits of breastfeeding are abundant for both the mother and the baby. Have happy breastfeeding.
Bindu’s background in English literature paved the way for her writing career. Her vast experience in content across different genres has proved her strong point as a successful writer.Read more.
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