Why Is Breast Feeding Better Than Any Other Supplement Feed
The infants can be breast fed few hours after it is born. There are exceptions in case the child or the mother is suffering from a different ailment. Breast milk helps in the natural growth of the infants.
It not only provides nourishment to the child but also the feeling of security to the child. It promotes bonding between the mother and child so that the child feels outer world less tough for itself and feels the world safer, and helps the child to get protection from the disease. Breastfeeding is one of the most beneficial acts of motherhood and it is quite natural in all the mothers.
Though there are few mothers who do not like to breast feed the babies due to certain myths. The infant gets health benefits passed on from their mother through the breast milk. With certain changes in the society, the breast feeding has lost its importance among the mothers. This is affecting the health of the infants severely.
Researchers have shown there are various benefits of the breast feeding so in order to make people aware of this in developed and developing countries many campaigns are being held. The doctors are participating in these campaigns and there are advertisements in different media so that mothers come to know the actual benefits of breast feeding.
No other milk can work as a supplement of breast feeding
Many women think that different formula milk has the same food value as of the breast milk but this is a wrong notion. A formula can never replace the breast milk as it can never have the properties of the breast milk. The formula milk has different vitamins, minerals and other supplements but it can never be compared and used as a supplement for the breast milk which is the one and only natural product nature has gifted to the infants through their mothers.
The breast feeding not only takes care of the child’s health during the childhood but feeding the baby is beneficial for the mothers also. Researchers have proved that if most of the babies are breast fed for the first 6 months and are not given any other liquid such as water then lives of at least 1.2 million infants could be saved.
Benefits of breast feeding for the baby
Through the breast milk the infants get the complete set of nutrients and antibodies. The composition of the breast milk is just right for the baby; this composition is actually required for the infant’s growth. Children if breast fed suffer from lesser incidences of vomiting and diarrhea which is the cause of hospitalization of many infants and many die because of it.
Breast feeding protects the child from gastroenteritis and reduces the colic pain, constipation and other stomach problems. Breast feeding reduces risk of diabetes in children. Breast feeding also provides protection against different diseases like ear infections, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections, respiratory illness and septicemia (infection in the blood). Allergies, eczema, asthma are the other diseases against which the infants get protection when they are breast-fed.
Breast–fed children have lesser risks of tooth decay, meningitis, childhood lymphoma and botulism. Breast-feeding helps the infants to have development of the facial structure, straight teeth structure and enhanced vision.
Breast-fed children have high IQ, and better development of nervous system and brain as there are specific proteins in the breast milk of humans which enhances the brain development. Breast-fed children have lesser risks of heart disease in later part of their life and better bone development. Breast feeding not only promotes better bondage between the child and the mother but also helps in emotional and spiritual development in the infants.
Benefits of breast feeding to the mothers
Not only the babies get benefited by the act of breast feeding but the mothers also gain from it. Breast-feeding mothers have lesser risks of different types of cancer like breast, ovary and endometrial cancers; lesser risks of anemia; gets protection against osteoporosis and hip fracture later in their life; helps the mother in weight loss and helps in delaying the fertility so that the mothers get enough time between subsequent pregnancies.
Not only in terms of health but breast feeding is economical too. Breast milk is free so you do not have to spend money on buying the tinned milk. Breast-fed babies have strong immunity so they do not fall sick often and thus the health care cost of the family is less and the parents do not have to take off from their work. The doctors encourage the working mothers to breast fed their child as it is possible to keep the breast milk in refrigerator for 24 hours and use it from time to time to feed the babies.
Benefits to the society through the breast feeding
Breast feeding has benefits for the environment and society also. Due to breast feeding the health care cost is less as both the mothers and the children are healthier. More health means the employers and parents save on the medical insurance premium amount.
As breast milk is naturally produced it does not require any type of resource or energy for producing, processing, packaging, and promoting the materials needed by the companies manufacturing the tinned baby milk. The need of disposal is also not there so the environment has lesser chances of getting polluted.
Other benefits of breast feeding
A country can grow well when the present and the future society will have sound health. The parents need to feel good and relaxed also so that the rearing of the child can be done properly. Breast feeding makes the mothers feel good and there are certain hormones produced during the breast feeding which give them a relaxed feeling.
Mothers do not have to loose their sleep as they do not have to wake up and prepare or heat the formula for the hungry screaming bay. They can sleep and nurse their babies at the same time. While traveling also you do not have to carry many things as breast milk is always there and there is not need to sterilize it and heat it.
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