The Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not only the most natural way to provide nutrition for your baby it is also the most complete way. There are many benefits for both mother and baby.
• Health Canada recommends that your baby does not need anything but breastmilk for at least the first six months of life
• promotes proper development of the jaw, teeth and facial structure.
• Breast milk is an infection fighter that passes antibodies from the mother to her baby. This lowers the occurrence of ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory infections and meningitis, just to name a few.
● protects against chronic health problems such as allergies, sudden infant death
syndrome, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative
colitis, and dental cavities.
● protects against infection because living substances in breastmilk prevent the growth
of harmful bacteria and viruses in baby’s digestive system.
● prevents babies from being sick and makes their illnesses less severe. Breastfed
babies have fewer respiratory illnesses and less diarrhea and constipation.
• enhances attachment between mother and baby by providing lots of direct skin contact between mother and baby
• While there are many myths about certain foods and breastfeeding, there is no need to avoid any foods.
Benefits for baby.
• Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants.
• A mother's milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development' (National Women's Health Information Center, 2005).
• Usually, breast milk is digested more easily than formula, which means that breastfed babies gain less unnecessary weight.
• Furthermore, breast milk aids in the development of a newborn's immune system, prevents diarrhea, maximizes a child's physical and intellectual potential, promotes the recovery of a sick child, and breastfeeding helps to bond mother and...