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“One night, my 3-year-old asked me if she could sleep in my bed. I told her no. She said, “That’s not fair! Why does Daddy get to sleep in your bed?” READ MORE
All About Breastfeeding Series
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Benefits for your baby Most expectant and new mothers are well aware of the benefits of breastfeeding. These benefits extend not only to baby and mom but to the entire family and society as a whole through excellent bonding, major health advantages and economic and ecologic savings. Here’s a look at some of the health benefits to a newborn. • Breast milk protects against infections with bacteria, viruses and other harmful germs. Breastfeeding your baby does not mean that your child won’t get ill. It does mean that if you take a large group of babies, the breastfed babies tend to become ill less frequently and/or less severely than their non-breastfed peers. In most cases, breastfeeding can continue during illness and helps in fighting off the infection through specific antibodies in the milk. • Babies who are breastfed and never or hardly use an artificial nipple will have well-developed facial muscles and the oral cavity will be optimally formed, resulting in better dental health. Immune properties in the milk help prevent certain bacteria from thriving in the mouth that can cause cavities. • Breastfeeding also improves the vision by stimulation of the eyes due to nursing in several positions. • Hormones and enzymes in the milk including growth factors help the development and maturation of the nervous system. • In our region, a seldom mentioned yet important benefit of breastfeeding is the fact that during power outages, earthquakes and other disasters, mothers’ breasts continue to produce milk for her baby. Not having to deal with clean water, sterilizing equipment and running out of supplies, this may be a real lifesaver for young, vulnerable babies. • Recent research suggests that breastfeeding may protect against childhood obesity and diabetes. For ages, mothers relied on their own milk as a safe and nutritious food for their babies. Breastfeeding got them through times of scarce food supplies, helped in spacing pregnancies, and protected children against the devastating effects of numerous infections, including diarrhea. The benefits of breast milk are so extensive that it impacts a mothers’ health as well. Let’s talk about that next month. |
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