The correct development of a baby is a very important issue for every mother, so that her child can grow healthy and without any problems, therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness of the issue of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is the main food that a newborn baby consumes through its mother’s breasts, this being its exclusive food until it is 2 years old, since it contains all the necessary nutrients for optimal growth.
Therefore, in the following article, some of the most outstanding benefits of breastfeeding will be mentioned in detail, in order to know its full importance.
Benefits of breastfeeding
As mentioned before, breastfeeding turns out to be very beneficial for both the baby and the mother , since this process contributes to good growth and the prevention of diseases for both, these being the following:
1. Develops the baby’s immune system
One of the main benefits of breastfeeding is that it contributes to the proper development of the baby’s immune system. This is very important, since the immune responses will act against diseases and viruses in the environment.
Note: This could be confirmed through a study published at the University of Granada in Spain, where they mention that breast milk is a fluid made up of lipids, proteins, minerals and immune molecules that help keep the baby in good health. .
2. Reduces the risk of malnutrition and sudden death
Breastfeeding is a vital process to reduce the risk of malnutrition and sudden death in babies, since this exclusive food for them provides them with all the necessary nutrients for proper growth and development in the early years.
Important: A study that was carried out at the Autonomous University of the Andes in Ecuador, explains that breast milk should be an exclusive food for babies , since it has all the necessary nutrients for their physical development and good body weight.
3. Contributes to the cognitive, motor and linguistic development of the baby
The cognitive, motor and linguistic development of the baby is improved by breastfeeding, because this food has all the necessary nutrients that a child demands in his first months , thus giving him better progress in learning and memory development.
To highlight: A study carried out at the University of Granada in Spain, explains the relationship between breast milk and the good cognitive development of the baby, mentioning that this food has an acid from the omega-3 series that helps the formation of the nervous system .
4. Promotes baby’s oral health
A notable benefit of breastfeeding is that it favors the baby’s oral health, thanks to the fact that it contributes to a good formation of the masticatory apparatus and the prevention of habits that can deform the mouth such as thumb sucking or nail biting.
To highlight: A study carried out in Cuba mentions that breastfeeding is essential to promote the baby’s oral health, since this breastfeeding process prevents the formation of malocclusions due to harmful habits that develop abnormalities.
5. Reduces the risk of childhood obesity
Breastfeeding generates a lower risk when the baby has breast milk as its main food, because it has a protein called “leptin” , whose main function is to control body weight through appetite regulation.
6. Reduces the risk of chronic diseases in the mother
Breastfeeding is a great help to prevent chronic diseases in mothers, because this feeding practice has a positive influence on women, since it allows to regulate blood pressure in the short and long term.
Note: Some of the chronic diseases that breastfeeding prevents are type 2 diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, heart disease, breast and ovarian cancer.
7. Promotes the recovery of the mother after childbirth
Many women are concerned about recovering their weight before childbirth , and that is that to achieve this, breastfeeding must be practiced since this way overweight can be avoided naturally by burning 450-500 calories per day.
8. Prevents postpartum depression
Another of the benefits that breastfeeding gives is that it helps to avoid postpartum depression in mothers, because this feeding practice protects the mental health of women knowing that they physically and emotionally satisfy their babies.
9. Create and strengthen the affective bond between mother and child
Finally, breastfeeding generates a strong bond between mother and child , which is strengthened through the baby’s continuous contact with the mother’s breast, since from there the emergence of positive feelings such as love, attachment, happiness, confidence and security between them.
Key Findings
- Breastfeeding is very important for a good development in the baby throughout his life.
- It prevents diseases, allows proper growth of the baby and strengthens the loving bond between mother and child.
- It also prevents malnutrition and strengthens the baby’s immune system .
- Breastfeeding favors the cognitive development and oral health of the baby, as well as contributes to the postpartum recovery of the mother.
University Professional in the area of Human Resources, Postgraduate in Occupational Health and Hygiene of the Work Environment, 14 years of experience in the area of health. Interested in topics of Psychology, Occupational Health, and General Medicine.