Have you ever wondered if breastfeeding your child has any advantages? Many women choose to breastfeed their baby because they think it will be best for the baby's physical and mental development.
In turn, there are also many mothers who decide not to do so because they see more negative effects on it for their body. But did you know that it also brings benefits to the mother?
Due to the development of non-maternal or artificial milk, in addition to the advances in medicine and in foods, the potentials Benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby health , Forgetting that the abandonment of this practice poses risks for the infant.
Many times we even think that certain brands of milk or food for babies are better for the child than the natural milk itself. This is due to the amount of ads that exist trying to sell that artificial milk is healthier and can produce more optimal effects both physical and mental in it.
We can not be fooled by these foods because although they are good, everything natural is always better.
Breastfeeding in data
For the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), breastfeeding"is an unparalleled way of providing the ideal food for the right growth and development of children"(WHO and UNICEF , 1989).
Every day there are more mothers who decide to breastfeed their child from the beginning of the cycle. According to one poll Carried out in 2005 in Catalonia (Spain), 81.1% of the mothers decided to breastfeed their children.
Although this data is very optimistic, in the third month only 61.9% of the mothers followed, in the sixth month of the baby only 31.3% continued to breastfeed their children. Finally, 11.5% decided to extend it to one year of age.
Benefits for the baby
There are plenty of benefits for the baby who is breastfed by his mother from birth. Some benefits may be:
1- Optimal Nutrition
According to Blázquez (2000), breast milk is ideal for the baby because it provides nutrients of excellent quality, thanks to its concentration in fats, proteins and lactose, in addition to its enzymes is absorbed quickly and effectively.
It is also a changing fluid, that is, it adapts to the needs of the baby as it grows. It is even an element of energy and nutrients during the second year of age.
2- Protecting infections
Breast milk is an excellent protector of infections, thanks to its composition can be said to give immunity to the baby.
Since the infant does not have immune system Formed in the first place, breast milk will help you to fight against possible infections such as: gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinary tract infections, otitis and diarrhea (Díaz-Gómez et al., 2000).
3- Chronic diseases of childhood
Thanks to breast milk, children may have a lower risk of developing diseases such as cancer, multiple sclerosis , Asthma, atopic dermatitis, etc.
4- Prevent diabetes
Since the introduction of other foods, such as cow's milk, is delayed by breastfeeding, it protects against Type I diabetes Y Type II diabetes .
If there is someone in the family who has diabetes, it is more appropriate to delay foods that contain cow's protein until the baby's first year (Ageitos and May, 2005).
5- Helps the development of teeth
Since children have to hold their breast to suckle, their development of the structures of the mouth will be more appropriate than if, on the contrary, they use the bottle to feed.
6- Reduce the risk of obesity
Breast milk incorporates the Leptin , A hormone that controls obesity in adults. It reduces this disease between 7 and 24% between babies who are breastfed and those who do not (Ageitos and May, 2005).
7- Lower morbidity and mortality
By owning the breast milk an anti-infectious composition contributes to a complete and balanced feeding of the baby. Non-artificial milk can avoid 1.3 million deaths per year in the world (Ageitos and May, 2005).
8- Higher child quotient
Children who are breastfed are more active. This will make it easier for you to have a better learning ability and an excellent psychomotor development.
9- Long Term Baby Development Benefits
Breastfeeding can be very positive for the child's long-term development. It protects the baby against diseases that can appear once you are an adult such as: diabetes, cardiovascular diseases , Ulcerative colitis, celiac disease... (Díaz-Gómez et al., 2000).
Benefits for the mother
According to Castelló (2011) breastfeeding the baby is also beneficial for mothers since:
10- Releases oxytocin
Because the baby is sucking the nipple, the mother will release the Hormone oxytocin , Which favors that the uterus returns to its natural size and that after the birth there is less loss of blood.
11- Temporary absence of menstruation
Breastfeeding causes the mother to have no menstruation for several months, which makes her less likely to suffer from anemia, Affection with important consequences .
12- Prevent breast and ovarian cancer
Some studies claim that breastfeeding prevents breast and ovarian cancer.
13- Weight Loss
The mother's body is working while breastfeeding the baby, so it is an energy expenditure that helps reduce the weight she has gained during pregnancy.
14- Helps maintain elasticity and firmness of the chest
Although there is a belief that if you breastfeed your breasts fall, this does not really happen.
Since the breast during lactation is in continuous stimulation, all those fats that can accumulate during this period are reduced, thus avoiding congestion (Diaz-Gómez et al., 2000).
15- Osteoporosis
Breastfeeding women are less likely to have hip and spine fractures in the menopause Since during lactation an increase of calcium absorption occurs (Ageitos and May, 2005).
Psychological and psychosocial benefits for the baby and for the mother
16- Affective relationship
Given that from the first moments of breastfeeding the baby, this allows to create a bond mother-child / a. This gives rise to a positive sense of self-appreciation and balances their emotions (Blázquez 2000).
17- Feeling of well-being
Breastfeeding can produce very positive emotions and feelings in the mother, such as the feeling of well-being and improves her self-esteem. depression (Bonilla 2009).
18- Safety in the baby
Whether a baby receives food directly from the mother will also positively affect his or her personality , Which will be less dependent and insecure (Bonilla 2009).
19- Good relaxing
When the baby is ill or upset, breastfeeding is his relaxation and optimal rest. When breastmilk is received, the baby feels the touch and warmth of his mother, this comforts him by making him feel calm and protected.
General Benefits
According to Bonilla (2009) there are a number of general benefits of breastfeeding for both mother and baby:
20- Safe maternal milk
The mother's milk is always prepared for the baby's consumption, thus fulfilling all the necessary conditions and adapting to her developmental needs.
21- Economic advantages
Giving breast milk to your baby prevents it from falling ill, which means significant savings in the drug bill, doctor visits... Also since you do not have to buy milk the expense will be lower in the baby's feeding.
22- Environment
Also breastfeeding we help the environment because being totally natural milk, it does not need to be treated.
If we decide to breastfeed our baby, we will not have to produce artificial milk. This will make it easier not to generate as much waste or waste for the environment.
23- Family strengthening
By breastfeeding the baby, family ties are strengthened, thus preventing child abuse . Child maltreatment is not only considered when it is physical or psychological, but also when it does not cover basic needs such as affection, warmth and nutrients; Necessary for its optimal integral development.
When a mother gives the breast occurs between the child and this a very healthy relationship, thus preventing such crimes (Díaz-Gómez et al., 2000).
Risks of feeding with artificial milk
Unlike breast milk, artificial or cow's milk is not naturally adapted for the consumption of the baby and its properties do not facilitate absorption by the infant.
It also causes constipation and renal overload. Sometimes it may even be difficult to prepare given the poor clarity of the instructions that come in the containers.
The father or mother may not use the formula adequately, ie if they add little or less dust than normal, the child may not have enough food to cause malnutrition (Schellhorn & Valdés).
With this type of artificial milk there is an increased risk of contamination of food. It is necessary to take the necessary precautions, which many times are not taken into account as: to wash properly the utensils that we are going to use, to wash the hands to us...
If we do not pay enough attention, our baby may be at increased risk for foodborne illness.
Children who have been fed using a bottle can get sick more often than children who have been breastfed naturally. The diseases to which they are exposed are: diarrhea, respiratory diseases, otitis and allergies.
In addition to the above, the use of artificial milk with the bottle can interfere in the maturation of the muscles of the mouth, as the child will not properly exercise these muscles.
They also produce risks of otitis and respiratory diseases due to the difference in temperature between breast milk and sugar added to the bottle (Díaz-Gómez et al., 2000).
Sugar or sugary foods found in artificial milk can cause baby cavities. The mother's natural milk, however, is tailored to the needs of the baby using only the nutrients that are needed.
Finally, if it is prolonged over time, pacifier suction can create the child's dependence, causing alterations in the mouth.
CONCLUSIONS
Breastfeeding is a very important action that brings general benefits to the whole family and also to society. To ensure that the benefits are optimal, the family must support this act from the outset, not only because of the nutritional value of the baby, but also because of its multiple benefits for its good development.
As we have seen, one of the main benefits of breastfeeding is psychological because it facilitates the bond between mother and child. It is important not only to support this action in the family but also in the public and private spheres.
It is therefore advisable to hold talks or courses in which all these benefits are reported to both parents and mothers, with the idea of promoting this action and eliminate possible myths that exist such as the fact that the woman falls the chest.
As for the family, it is also beneficial for society at large, since if all mothers breastfed their children up to a fixed period of six months, infant mortality would be reduced and the enormous cost of Manufacture artificial milk, so it would also help the environment.
And what other benefits of breastfeeding do you know?
References
- Ageitos, M. L., & May, V. (2005). Breastfeeding. Bull. Proaps-Remedy, 3 (19), 18-21.
- Blázquez, M.J. (2000). Advantages of breastfeeding. Natural medicine (1), 44-51.
- Bonilla, A. V. (2009). Breastfeeding and its benefits. Current Nursing Magazine in Costa Rica (15), 3.
- De Catalunya, G. (2005). Material for promotion of breastfeeding. Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de salut. Available at: http: //www.grupslactancia.org/en/federacion-catalunya/datos-de-2005
- Joint Declaration, O., & UNICEF. (1989). Protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. The special role of Maternity Services. Geneva: WHO.
- Díaz-Gómez, N., & Doménech, E. (2000). Advances in breastfeeding. Canarias Pediátrica, 24 (1), 39-46.
- Schellhorn, C., & Valdés, V. Breastfeeding technical contents for health professionals. Chapter II. Chile; 2010 [access June 8, 2016].