Breastfeeding – Good for Babies and their Mothers!
Some people think there is nothing more tender than to see a mother nursing her baby, After all, contrary to our cultural fascination with breasts, that’s the real reason why God gave women breasts!
And then…along came baby formula, “manufactured” nutrition for babies, that was market as “just like mothers’ milk,” and that was the end of nursing for many mothers who didn’t like the idea of being “tied down.” But how can anything but mothers’ milk be just like mothers’ milk?
It’s wonderful that so many mothers today are learning how healthy breastfeeding is for their babies and for themselves! And the benefits start right from day one!
How do babies benefit? Well…for starters, it is the most natural and complete form of nutrition available. It is the right temperature, with exactly the right amounts of fat, sugar, water, and protein needed for your baby to grow properly, and it’s more easily digested than formula. Your baby also receives the benefits of your immunities so they are more resistant to illness, both as a baby and into the teenage years. And breastfed babies even score higher on IQ tests! Perhaps the greatest benefit, however, is the bond that develops between a mother and her child through the closeness, the skin-to-skin contact involved with breastfeeding.
And how do mothers benefit from breastfeeding? The incidence of breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis is reduced. Breastfeeding is economical – think of the money you save! It is also convenient – no bottles to wash, no water to heat, nothing to mix or measure and it’s always available. Breastfeeding also helps to contract the uterus and may help you return to your pre-pregnancy weight more quickly!
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