Breastfeeding: 10 good reasons to breastfeed your baby

1. Breastfeeding strengthens the immune system

Le breastmilk provides the child with unparalleled immunity against bacteria and viruses. While breastfeeding, the mother transmits her own antibodies to the child: les IgA (Immunoglobulins A), which is particularly responsible for colostrum. These elements make the lining of the baby’s intestine impermeable to infectious agents. The countless benefits of breast milk for the health of breastfed children are proportional to the duration of breastfeeding. Thanks to their immune system acquired through breastfeeding, breastfed babies have ten times less likely to be hospitalized during the first year of life than babies bottle-fed infant formula, five times less risk of being affected by rotavirus gastroenteritis and three times less diarrheal disease.

Breastfeeding also provides significant protection against ear infections, nasopharyngitis, tonsillitis and laryngitis, not to mention bronchiolitis. Breastfeeding would also prevent asthma provided that it is exclusive and extended for at least 4 months. In the longer term, it decreases the risk of childhood cancer and diabetes. For all these reasons, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, and extended up to two years with complementary solid food.

2. Breast milk has an optimal nutritional composition

No artificial supplement can copy theare nutrients contained in breast milk, nor the benefits it provides. Mother’s milk is a unique combination of fatty acids, sugar, minerals, proteins, vitamins and enzymes, which promotes optimal growth of the baby’s brain and body. What’s more, it adapts in its composition over the months, and even over the feeding: first of all the drink, water and mineral salts, endowed with small sweetening, anti-infectious and enzymatic maternal proteins, and lactose. Then caseins and fats. Therefore, breastfeeding alone is sufficient for the baby’s first six months of life.

Breast milk would also be extremely beneficial to infant brain development, due to its richness in “good fats”, essential fatty acids, omega 3 and omega 6. It even contains cholesterol.

3. Breastfeeding allows an emotional connection with the child

Breastfeeding is THE emotional food par excellence. By providing the child with emotional security with close contact, the mother-child bond is affirmed. Some mothers also do skin to skin to optimize it further. Breastfeeding thus arises as one of the guarantees ofgood psychological, emotional and emotional balance adulthood.

For psychoanalysts, breastfeeding would also allow the first weeks to facilitate the passage of life. in utero to post-natal life. We also speak of the fourth trimester of pregnancy to refer to the first three months of life with a baby, as the need for fusion is real and beneficial, for the baby as for his mother. And breastfeeding is the most legitimate mothering practice for this.

4. Major benefit of breastfeeding: it’s free!

This should be compared with the average cost of one year of artificial milk cans (around 600 euros), to which is added the total annual cost of ancillary equipment (bottles, teats, water, sterilizer, electricity), between 75 and 90 euros. Not to mention the savings in medical care! Certainly, breastfeeding may require some shopping: nursing bra, possibly pads. This is still less than the purchase of infant milk.

5. Breast feeding, more convenient than bottle feeding

Breast milk is always fresh, sterile (even when the mother has a viral illness), at the right temperature and the right dosage. It is available immediately, anywhere and anytime. No need to worry about the quantities baby is drinking, no anxiety about the barely started bottle: if baby withdraws from the breast and seems sated, it means that he has had his ration. You don’t even have to be there at all times: you can use a breast pump (to rent or to buy in pharmacies). Short, breastfeeding rhymes with simplicity, but also with freedom!

6. Breastfeed to recover from childbirth faster

Early breastfeeding and uterine contractions (sometimes called trenches) decrease the risk of bleeding and help the uterus to regain its size faster, its initial shape and tone. And therefore to find a flat stomach more quickly. One more asset for a woman who has had a cesarean section. Plus, breastfeeding can make us burn up to 500 kcal per day. By calling on the mother’s body, the lactation process draws on certain available reserves. From where weight loss that can be accelerated, especially if you breastfeed for a long time. Women who breastfeed usually regain their figure faster than those who do not breastfeed. Finally, it is considered a real anti-depression for the young mother, by the endorphins secreted at the time of breastfeeding.

7. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of childhood obesity

The character ” anti-obesity Breastmilk is a fact of life. According to British studies, continued breastfeeding for at least six months reduces the risk of being overweight by more than 30% and that of obesity by more than 40%. Because the lipids contained in the mother’s milk slow down the multiplication of cells during the first years of the child. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that in the case of breastfeeding, the child is most often fed on demand. He therefore learns to self-regulate his diet and his appetite rather than a bottle-fed child.

8. The risk of allergy is reduced by breastfeeding

The longer the breastfeeding, the more moderate the risk of allergy in the child. According to a Finnish study, only 8% of adolescents who were breastfed for more than six months suffered from allergies, compared to 23% of those breastfed between 1 and 6 months and 54% of those who were not breastfed or only less than a month. Raison : human milk protects the intestinal barrier and inhibits the absorption of food antigens.

9. Breastfeed to satisfy the baby’s need for sucking

Full breastfeeding is an emotional as well as a nutritional need : some feedings are “cuddle feeds”, much more than meals! The breastfeeding is an extraordinary calming, at the same time painkiller, anxiolytic and sedative. This, no bottle or pacifier can replace it. Another advantage of breastfeeding is that it improves the development of the oral muscles and the bones of the baby’s face and thus reduces the future need for braces.

10. The health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers

Recent studies show that breastfeeding contributes to almost halve the risk of breast cancer. The longer the total duration of breastfeeding, the better the protection (the risk would be reduced by two-thirds for those who breastfed a total of six years and more). It also has a preventive role in ovarian cancer, osteoporosis in menopause, as well as urinary tract infections and endometriosis. In addition, the breastfeeding phase often corresponds to a chronic disease remission like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and multiple sclerosis.

Breastfeeding twins: how to go about it

Exclusive or mixed 

The usual fear of expectant mothers: “Will I have enough milk?” Is even more lively when it comes to twins. No worries : the more babies breastfeed, the more milk you will have. If babies, too weak, have difficulty latching on, or if you feel too tired, you may prefer express your milk to be assisted by your partner for a few feedings. Tip: Put the two babies on the less productive breast and express your milk from each other. The doubly stressed breast will fill up within half an hour of feeding one to feed the other. If despite everything you do not succeed, you can choose to go from the start tomixed breastfeeding. With the risk, however, of seeing your lactation dry up quickly.

Course incidents

You can also have crevice problems, but no more than with simple breastfeeding. However, due to the rhythm of the feedings, the exposure time for restorative creams is sometimes too short for them to work well. However, here are some effective preparations: purified lanolin (Lansinoh®, Purelan®…), sterilized honey (Melicare®), Homeoplasmin (Boiron), Oligoderm (Labcatal), Castor Equi (Boiron)… If the pain persists, you may have use of compresses that do not stick to the nipples such as Nursicare®.

Breastfeeding twins: simultaneous or alternate?

Again, this is a personal choice. Some mothers will prefer to breastfeed only one baby at a time. At times it is easier to breastfeed separately (if a baby has difficulty latching on, or in public) or more satisfying (if you want to have a special relationship with one of the babies). In this case, for each feeding, establish an order according to the state of satiety of each one. Observe each reaction carefully. If one prefers to fall asleep at the breast, let him suck last. At other times, simultaneous breastfeeding is very convenient (when babies are hungry at the same time!). Take care, in this case, to wedge them well with several cushions or pillows.

Breastfed twins: a different breast each time, or each to their own

Alternately offering a breast to each baby can be useful when they have two very different sucks, to avoid engorgement. But more often than not, it may be easier to navigate your way by adopting the “one breast per 12 or 24 hours” scheme.