Mother's milk is a platform of good health for
babies as it is the sole source for infant's growth and it is equally healthy for
mothers too. Breastfeeding also provides many short and long term benefits to
the mother also.:-
- Mother should start breastfeeding the infant immediately after delivery. As soon as the baby start sucking, oxytocin hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland of the mother and it helps to release milk from the breast. It reduces bleeding which prevents anaemia.
- The amount of iron a mother loses in breast milk is much lesser than the she loses through bleeding.
- Breastfeeding delays regular menstruation which prevents anaemia and the chances of becoming pregnant are less.
- Mothers even lose weight as breastfeedig burns 200 to 500 calories per day to produce milk.
- Beastfeeding is also good for diabetic mothers who are on insulin as its dose can be reduced.
- Breastfeeding leads to good level of cholesterol which in turn reduces heart diseases.
- Hip fractures are less common in women who breastfeed as their bones become stronger. It reduces calcium levels.
- Ovarian and uterine cancers are less in mothers who breastfeed. Mothers who breastfeed for 12-24 months, the risk of cancer to them gets reduced by 10-25%.
- It has psychlogical impacts like bonding due to skin-to-skin touch between mother and the baby. The milk producing hormone produces calming effect in the mother which enables her to relax.
- Beastfeeding is convenient and economical. Mothers does not need to take effort to sterilise the bottles and prepare any formula feed.