Importance Of Breastfeeding

A mother's milk is the most important feed for an infant and cannot be adequately replaced by any other food including infant formula. For this reason, expectant women should be very keen on what they eat and make sure they eat healthy food during pregnancy.

Human milk is known to provide virtually all the nutrients that an infant may need at that particular stage in life to grow and develop in the healthiest way possible. Regular breast feeding is greatly encouraged to lactating mothers as it benefits their babies as well as them too.

Medical specialists have recommended that breast feeding should be done exclusively for the first six months. This means that for the first six months of the baby's life, there should be no solid food, formula or water that should be given to the baby.

During that period, mothers should also ensure that they are taking the best nutrition for breast feeding to boost the effectiveness of their breast milk. Here are some quick important advantages of healthy breast feeding for children as well as their mothers.

· Boosting your child's intelligence

Studies by various researchers have shown that breast fed children score higher in IQ tests than those who are not breast fed. It has been proven that fatty acids in the breast milk contribute to this. In addition to that, the emotional bonding between the mother and the baby during breast feeding is also said to contribute to these brain power effects.

· Protection against diseases

In addition to containing all the proteins, vitamins, fats that a baby needs in the first six months of his life, breast milk is enriched with disease -fighting substances that protect your baby from all types of illnesses such as meningitis, ear infections, respiratory illnesses and even diarrhea.

Moreover, breast milk protection against diseases extends beyond your baby's breastfeeding stage. This protection is quite unique; milk formula cannot match the chemical makeup of human breast milk.

· Protection against allergies

Breast feeding also reduces the risk of babies getting all sorts of allergies. Babies fed on milk formulae based on cow milk or soy tend to get allergies more often than breast fed children and are even more vulnerable to inflammations and other eventual health issues.

· Cost effective

Mothers who breast feed their babies do not have to spend any money to feed their children. Furthermore, since breast feeding lowers the health risks of your baby, you do not have to spend much on medical expenses related to the health of your baby.