Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom & Baby

You must have already heard a number of times as to how beneficial breastfeeding is for your baby! But did you know that the benefits of breastfeeding also extend to you? Surprised? Well, check out this list of benefits you AND your baby can derive from the act of breastfeeding!

Stronger Bones

What if we told you that women who breastfeed their babies more have a lower risk of developing osteoporosis post-menopause? This is due to the fact that when a woman is pregnant and lactating, her body is able to absorb calcium more effectively.

Essentially what this means is even though during the weaning phase, a mother’s bones seem less dense, their density increases brilliantly compared to what it was like before pregnancy, six months post-weaning!

Calorie Burner

Your breast milk contains 20 calories per ounce! Did you know that? Amazing isn’t it? So basically, if you are feeding your baby 20 ounces a day, you end up burning 400 calories, literally!

Better Healing

You obviously know that after delivery your uterus needs time to heal and contract back to its normal size. Breastfeeding helps precisely with that very aspect! When you are nursing your baby, your body releases oxytocin! This very hormone helps to contract your expanded uterus and also lessens the post-delivery blood loss!

Increases Bonding

Breastfeeding helps you bond with your baby more effectively than anything else. From reading his/her cues as to when he/she is hungry to when they have had their share of milk, you need to rely on your bond with the baby and your instincts!

A Vacay from Periods

Thanks to Prolactin that is also released during breastfeeding, you can now expect your periods to come at a later stage, since prolactin delays ovulation thus delaying your periods. The release of the prolactin helps keep the progesterone and estrogen at bay, as a result of which your period gets delayed.

Healthier Babies

A lot of research done regarding breastfeeding shows that breastfed babies are healthier and even have better antibody response top vaccines!