By: Vaishnavi Raju | Date: January 25, 2021

Top 5 Advantages And Disadvantages Of Breastfeeding

"Breast milk is the perfect food for your child. Breastfeeding can make your baby stronger, sharper, and smarter".

After childbirth, breast milk is the first perfect food for your baby. Breastfeeding your baby is crucial for their growth and development. The benefits of breastfeeding are endless for both the mother and the baby. Women’s breast milk provides perfect nutrition for the baby. Its production and delivery of this milk aid a woman’s health too. Medical practitioners recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months till solid food is given to the baby.

What is breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is feeding your baby directly with your breast milk. Many experts all over the world recommend breastfeeding exclusively for 6 months. After 6 months babies are given other types of solid food. Still, experts ask to continue with breastfeeding through the baby’s first year of life. The duration of breastfeeding depends on the baby. Some babies prefer short but frequent feeding and some prefer longer feeding. Infants feed every 2-3 hours. By 2 months the duration increases to every 3-4 hours and by six months babies feed every 4-5 hours.

What are the benefits of Breastfeeding for babies?

Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for the baby. Breast milk has the perfect amount of nutritional components needed by the baby. Breastfeeding delivers antioxidants, enzymes, immune properties, and antibodies to the toddler. A study has found that breastfeeding a 3-year-old baby benefits their intelligence level by boosting their brain connections. The breastfeeding benefits for toddler include:-

• Breastfeed babies have a Strong Immune system
• Lower risk of disease like diarrhoea, constipation, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux, etc.
• The benefits of breastfeeding after 6 months include decreased vulnerability to respiratory illness.
• Breastfed babies suffer from fewer ear infections.
• Better vision and healthy eyes for a long time.
• Breastfeeding decreases the risk of infant mortality.
• Lower risk of diabetes and obesity in adulthood are also the benefits of breastfeeding.
• Healthy weight gain
• Breastfeeding a 3-year-old baby benefits them by boosting their intelligence level.

Nursing your baby is not an easy task. You need to watch out every time if your baby is hungry. Offer to breastfeed every 2 hours to see if they are hungry. You must be in a comfortable atmosphere while breastfeeding. Take care of your breast skin by patting it dry after feeding. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated while breastfeeding.

What are the benefits of Breastfeeding for Moms?

Breastfeeding is beneficial not only for the baby but also for the mother. Maternal breastfeeding benefits include:-

• Breastfeeding can help to lose pregnancy weight without any effort.
• Breastfeeding helps the uterus contract back to normal size and reduces blood loss.
• Breastfeeding benefits the new mom by reducing their postpartum depression
• Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.
• Lower risk of high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease.
• Breastfeeding halts ovulation and menstruation and ensures the gap between pregnancies.
• Breastfeeding helps to save money and time for the mothers.

Advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding?

There are many benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mother. After childbirth, the yellowish fluid coming out of the breast is very crucial for the baby. It contains many valuable proteins for the development of the child. Breast milk is superior to formula milk.

Health benefits of breastfeeding for your child

The natural ingredients in breast milk help to protect the baby from illness and disease during infancy. Breastfeeding helps in smooth bowel movements in the baby. Breastfed babies experience less diarrhoea and constipation. There are various health benefits of breastfeeding for you child.

Breastfeeding makes the mother healthier

Breastfeeding helps women to recover faster from pregnancy and childbirth. There are various benefits of breastfeeding for moms. It decreases your risk of developing a range of diseases.

Breast milk is better at the taste

Breast milk is naturally sweet and creamy. Its flavour is better than formula milk. Breastfeeding helps to diversify the taste of your baby and encourages them to eat a lot of different foods. Breastfeeding comforts sick and vulnerable child.

Breastfeeding is convenient

One of the benefits of breastfeeding is that it is easily available whenever you want. You don’t need to worry about sterilization, heating formula milk, or cleaning the bottles. Breast milk is pure and always at the right temperature.

Breastfeeding is cheaper

Breast milk is the blessing of nature. It is produced in the body of the baby. The benefit of breastfeeding is not only related to the health of the baby, but it is cheaper also. You don’t have to buy formula milk, bottles, and supplies. As your kid remains healthier, your medical costs also reduce.

Disadvantages of breastfeeding

Having less freedom

A new mother has to breastfeed the baby every two hours. You have to available day and night for nursing your baby. It can be very exhausting when you are already fatigued because of childbirth.

Pain in breasts

You may face some painful problems with breastfeeding. You may have to deal with mastitis, breast engorgement, and sore nipples.

Uncomfortable in public

Most of the women feel uncomfortable in public places to breastfeed their babies. This can cause you to always remain indoors to nurse your baby. If you don’t go out for a long time can make you feel lonely and isolated.

Always have to eat healthy foods

You always have to eat and drink healthy when you are breastfeeding. You won’t be able to take caffeine, alcohol, and fast foods. These can be harmful to the baby. You always have to make healthy food choices.

The bottom line

There are numerous benefits of breastfeeding for baby and mom. Most health experts recommend breastfeeding as long as possible. Breast milk is crucial for the development of the baby. Breastfeeding benefits a toddler by improving its immunity. New moms also get many benefits from breastfeeding.