As a soon-to-be-mother, there are plenty of choices you are going to have to make, from determining what color you want to paint the nursery to determining whether you should get the stroller that folds up more easily or should instead go with the one that is easier to take running with you; you will have to decide who will be your child’s pediatrician, and you will have to figure out which parenting methods you subscribe to and which you disagree with. With all these choices hanging over you – and with all the information that comes along with them – it can all be a bit overwhelming, but we are here to make at least one of your decisions a bit easier: to breastfeed or not to breastfeed. Really, it’s not even a question!
For some, the thought of breastfeeding can be a bit daunting (how does it even work!), but daunting or not, there is one thing that stands, and that is the fact that there are huge benefits to being your new baby’s food supply.
Of course, the first area of “benefits” – the area most people have heard of and have at least a basic understanding of already – is the ways in which breastfeeding benefits your baby; while there are lots of formulas that try to replicate breast milk, there is really no substitute for the real thing, as “the real thing” is perfectly balanced for your baby. Your new baby, after all, requires balanced meals, and giving them breast milk is the best way to fulfill this need.
Furthermore, your baby’s immune system receives a boost from the antibodies in your milk, so that your milk will help your child to fight diseases when they are young, and will fortify your baby’s body in such a way that they continue to have a stronger immune system throughout the remainder of their life. Breast milk will also be able to help your child’s digestive system, and it has even been proven to increase the likelihood of a child having a higher IQ and a more well-developed mind as they grow older.
Of course, a lot of us were already aware of the fact that breast milk is good for babies – even if we did not know the specifics – but did you know the other benefit of breast milk? The fact that it is good for the mother?
Breastfeeding helps your uterus contract, which helps you quit bleeding; in other words, you will be able to stem post-birth bleeding more quickly if you begin breastfeeding right away! Furthermore, breastfeeding burns calories (you gotta love that!), which means it will help you get back to your pre-pregnant body far more quickly.
When it comes down to it, breastfeeding is good for you, and it is also good for your baby – and this means that “whether or not you should breastfeed” is not really a question at all!
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