Did you know breastfeeding burns extra calories?
Registered Dietician
| 2 min read
I am a new mom and I am lucky enough to be able to breastfeed our daughter. My milk supply is good and she latched on and now at 6 months, she might not always want to nurse from me, but I am still able to use a breast pump to give her breast milk in the bottle. It has not always been easy, but definitely worth it for both of us.
There are many benefits for both mom and baby when it comes to breastfeeding. It is not always as easy and natural as people say it is, so make sure you have support during this process. Talk to your loved ones or a lactation consultant if you need help or have questions.
Benefits for Baby
- Ideal nutrition for baby with the perfect mix of vitamins, fat, protein
- It is in a form that is more easily digested by baby and therefore more easily absorbed too
- Breast milk also has antibodies that help baby fight off viruses and bacteria
- Breastfeeding also may reduce the risk for asthma and allergies for babies
- Reduced SIDs (sudden infant death syndrome)
- Breastfed babies may have also have higher IQs
Benefits for Mommy
- Breastfeeding burns extra calories, therefore helping moms lose pregnancy weight faster
- It saves time and money, while increasing the bond between mother and baby
- Reduces levels of stress because it increases more oxytocin hormone, which helps reduce stress
- There is also reduced risk of postpartum depression
- There is also a very strong bond formed with mother and baby
- It also reduced the risk for breast and ovarian cancer, the longer you breastfeed the more preventative advantages against these cancers. Breastfeeding for a year appears to have the most protective effect against breast cancer.
- It is easier to leave the home with baby because you don’t have to prep or carry bottles
- It is also better for the environment because there is no waste of formula cans to throw away or bottles to wash
It is not always as easy and natural as people say it is, so make sure you have support during this process. Talk to your loved ones or a lactation consultant if you need help or have questions. If you found this post useful, make sure to check out:
Photo Credit: Wayne Evans
