Breast milk is best for babies up to 2 years and there are benefits of breastfeeding babies for both mom and baby.
While midwives and pediatricians always advise nursing mothers on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding with water in the first 3 months, some mothers still wonder whether or not to breastfeed their little darling.
Some nursing mothers are faced with stress and breastfeeding problems like hard breasts, low milk supply, nipple problems, and others.
You should not put pressure on yourself, and the choice is yours whether to breastfeed or give formula to your baby.
Advantages of Breastfeeding for Baby
The main advantage of breastfeeding for babies is that breast milk is rich in organic nutrients without any form of processing.
Breast milk, especially colostrum can help the baby to develop a strong immune system.
Babies who are breastfed are less likely to develop allergies and infectious diseases.
It is now also known that breastfed children die less often from sudden infant death syndrome.
Breast milk always provides the needed nutrients to the baby as it grows.
As the baby grows, the composition of the milk changes naturally. The milk always has the right drinking temperature and is always available.
More so, breastfeeding does not cost anything unlike formula feeding, however, the mother needs to eat regularly and drink fluid to prevent being dehydrated, tired or getting weak.
Advantages of Breastfeeding for moms
Breastfed babies are more clingy to their moms, therefore, breastfeeding is a way of bonding with your baby.
However, breastfeeding is not the only way to help your baby develop an attachment with you, caring for your baby regularly will also do.
The daily physical connection also helps the child’s development emotionally and in other forms.
If you don’t breastfeed, ensure the baby is in your arms when you bottle feed.
Breastfeeding, however, can also help mothers with anxiety and stress and does not make them tired or weak, however, you need to eat well and take a lot of water so you don’t feel dizzy.
Breastfeeding your baby can also help to induce the secretion of oxytocin hormone from your brain, and this love hormone can help your libido, and bonding and has other benefits.
Problems with Breastfeeding
As there are many benefits of breastfeeding your baby, there are also some disadvantages or problems, especially for the nursing mother.
Some mothers do not have enough milk and the baby will not be satisfied. Milk congestion or breast inflammation occurs, which makes breastfeeding very painful.
Breastfeeding is still possible when this occurs, but many women choose not to offer it again to their babies because it’s painful.
Breastfeeding can make you change your lifestyle – the way you dress, the drinks or drugs you take, and others.
Babies eat often, and you may be uncomfortable with that, especially if you’re in a busy workplace. Not only that, breastfeeding your baby in the public may be very uncomfortable.
There are also very different reasons why mothers choose not to breastfeed from the start.
With breastfeeding, you may not be able to measure or control how your baby eats.
Conclusion
The decision of whether you should breastfeed your baby or not is personal, however, breastfeeding is very good for your baby, and you should prioritize that.
Also, if you’re having challenges with breastfeeding your newborn, you should first speak with your midwife or doctor for advice.
