Breastfeeding The Most Precious Gift You Can Give Your Baby
A Baby’s Instinct
Pregnancy is a true blessing and breastfeeding is a special phase in a mother’s lite, remembered with a sense of pride. The moment your baby is born, you welcome him/her into your world by gently kissing, touching and stroking your baby. And when you hold your baby close, your baby (like all mammals) will seek the source of food which Is, the mother’s breast. The scent of secretions from the areolar glands of the breast and the smell of colostrum (the first milk) attracts your baby and guides him/her to the nipple. So, babies and mothers’ bodies naturally know what to do.
Acquiring Knowledge About Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is natural and breast milk is the best for the baby. However, breastfeeding like birthing, has been portrayed as painful and difficult. So attending a prenatal class with her family is the first thing a to-be-mother can do, as a step towards preparation for breastfeeding. It is essential to know that the most important organ for breastfeeding is the mother’s brain. Hence, acquiring knowledge on the superiority of this natural and wonder food (breast milk, white blood), understanding the challenges, myths and tacts about breastfeeding helps the mother a long way in making breastfeeding successful.
What WHO Recommends
The World Health Organization recommends that the first feeding should take place in the golden hour (the first hour immediately after birth). But early breastfeeding is possible only when babies are born through natural and gentle birthing methods rather than via C-section, epidural and vacuum extraction.
Breast milk protects babies from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), allergies, ear infections, and illnesses. Also, babies who are breastfed have higher lOs, are less obese, have less dental, ear and speech, or vision problems
Benefits Of Breast Milk
The quality of breast milk depends on the food a mother eats, so lactating mothers need to have a healthy diet of 1800 kcals a day. Breastfeeding babies share a special bond with their mother and can easily be comforted. Also, problems like constipation, diarrhoea are kept at bay as mother’s milk is easily digested by the baby. Breast milk also protects babies from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), allergies, ear infections, and illnesses. Also, babies who are breastfed have higher IQs, are less obese, have less dental, ear and speech, or vision problems.
Furthermore, breastfeeding is not just beneficial for the baby, but mothers too benefit, as they can lose weight faster and can get into shape easily. Additionally, breastfeeding for a year prevents mothers from getting breast cancer (up to 95 per cent). Apart from this, the hormone prolactin released during breastfeeding helps mothers feel more relaxed, peaceful and also experience a sense of maternal fulfilment. So, on the whole, breastfeeding is the most precious gift you can give your baby.