5 Essential Benefits of Breastfeeding Every New Mother Should Know
The benefits of breastfeeding are pretty well known among breastfeeding moms but there are some less well-known benefits that never cease to amaze me. As I sit down to write this, my 15 month old just finished having her morning mimi (“milky”) and she’s about to sit down to have breakfast. Read on to find out five essential benefits of breastfeeding that go beyond basic nutrition, shedding light on some incredible, natural wonders that can make a significant impact on your baby’s health and development.
1. Colostrum: The First Superfood
Colostrum is the first milk your body produces after giving birth - think of it as your baby’s ‘welcome to the world’ elixir! It’s often referred to as “liquid gold” due to its concentrated nutrients and antibodies (and its yellow hue). It provides essential immune system support to your newborn, helping protect against infections and illnesses. Now, here’s a golden nugget I learned from my doula: freezing colostrum into syringes is like stashing away a superhero serum for your baby’s early months - a powerful arsenal to have in case your baby faces off with the sniffles or sneezes! And the best part, you don’t need to introduce an electric pump, you can use a Haakaa to collect colostrum as you feed your baby from one side.
2. Personalized Nutrition
One of the greatest benefits of breastfeeding is the constantly changing composition of breast milk. Your breast milk not only changes over time but it even changes within a single feeding session - like a gourmet meal tailored exclusively for your baby. First, there is foremilk and hindmilk. The initial foremilk that baby gets when they first latch on is more watery, quenching your baby’s thirst, while the hindmilk that follows is richer in fats, providing essential calories and nutrients for growth. And here’s the ultimate mom magic: your body can even detect and adjust the temperature of the breast milk to ensure your breast milk is always just right, helping your baby either cool down or warm up based on what they need.
3. The Perfect Meal, Always
How else does your breast milk adapt to your baby each feeding session? When your baby latches, their saliva transfers chemicals to your body that triggers a remarkable response: your breast milk adjusts its composition to precisely match your baby’s evolving nutritional needs. Every feed directly from the boob is the perfect meal. This happens by kissing your baby too! By planting kisses on your baby, you are sampling the pathogens on their skin, which is transferred to your lymphatic system, where you produce antibodies to any bugs. By breastfeeding, you’re whipping up the perfect meal tailored to your little one’s cravings, growth spurts and developmental milestones. These benefits of breastfeeding are hard to beat.
4. Night Time Milk with Melatonin
There’s more! The composition of breastmilk changes throughout the day too, which makes your milk work like a clock for your baby. The type of breast milk helps provide cues to your baby about the time of day. Levels of cortisol - a hormone that promotes alertness - are higher in morning milk than in evening milk. Meanwhile, evening milk contains higher levels of melatonin and neucleotides (proteins) that stimulate GABA, a sleep inducing neurotransmitter. This benefits both you and your little one in establishing healthy sleeping patterns.
5. Emotional Bonding and Cognitive Development
The benefits of breastfeeding are not just about sustenance. There is a profound bonding experience between you and your baby every time you breastfeed. The physical closeness, eye contact, and skin-to-skin contact during breastfeeding contribute to the emotional well-being of both mother and child. Additionally, research suggests that breastfeeding may have positive effects on cognitive development, enhancing a child's IQ and cognitive abilities later in life.
The Benefits of Breastfeeding Don’t Stop There
Embracing the natural and holistic practice of breastfeeding offers many benefits that extend far beyond simple nutrition. From the immune-boosting properties of colostrum to the emotional bonding and cognitive advantages, breastfeeding is a unique and invaluable experience for both you and your baby. Whether you are a new mom, an expectant mama, or a mother of multiple littles, get familiar with all the benefits of breastfeeding and take a second to think about how incredible it is that we can feed our babies with our bodies!