Spectrum Health Services, Inc
August is National Breastfeeding Month and people are joining together all over the world to promote this natural and beneficial way of feeding one’s child. Not every mother chooses to breastfeed and not every woman is able to due to medical issues but mother’s milk is beneficial to both mom and baby and is recommended for the first year of like by the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Promoting Health Benefits
Not all women receive optimal health care during their and because of this, they may not be aware of the benefits associated with breastfeeding. With breast milk being comprised of all the perfect amounts of fat, protein and vitamins that a baby needs, mother’s milk is the way to go for the majority of infants. These days, many store bought formulas contain some really nasty ingredients like chemicals, corn syrup solids, refined sugar and more. Breast milk contains ingredients that the mother is consuming but if mom is taking care of herself and eating properly, then breast milk is beneficial.
Immune System Development and Care
Breast milk contains antibodies for a host of different illnesses and once consumed, the baby will form a resistance to these illnesses. Both bacterial and viral illnesses can be completely prevented thanks to breastfeeding and even if they are contracted by the infant, their duration can be much shorter. Some preliminary research is showing that breast milk can prevent certain cancers, diabetes and developmental delays as children grow. Ear infections, the flu and RSV can all be prevented or shortened by consumption of breast milk. Allergies and asthma are on the rise in children under the age of five but breastfeeding can also help prevent these things as well. These facts are easy to access when looking into the benefits of breastfeeding but for those who are not aware of it, national breastfeeding month can be a good time to get these facts out there and reach the masses.
Proper Child Development
Not every child will walk and talk at the exact same point in their lives but there is a general age where children are expected to meet certain milestones. Breastfeeding has been shown to help children reach these milestones on time or earlier than normal. When breastfeeding takes place for the first six months of a child’s life, they tend to have a higher IQ score than those children that were fed formula on a consistent basis. Keep in mind, this is largely in part to all of the great things that are in breast milk, but one of the benefits of breastfeeding that is promoted during national breastfeeding month is the bonding that occurs between the mother and the baby. Skin to skin contact is beneficial for development as is eye contact and being held and soothed.
The mother of the baby, whether baby is born yet or not, is the person who will make the final decision regarding whether they will breastfeed or not. National breastfeeding month can bring mother’s together to help educate and inspire women to nurse their babies. All other conflicts aside, including whether or not to breastfeed in public, breast is best in the majority of situations and national breastfeeding month can help get the facts out into the public so women can make an educated decision on what is best for their baby. Utilizing the services of a lactation specialist can help make this process simpler and more enjoyable for mom and baby. It is recommended that nursing continue for the first year of life.