As a new mother, you would have thought of ditching the nursing bra and picking up the bottle at some point. Well, you would have come across many people saying that formula is just as good for the baby, and you could be exhausted with breastfeeding. So how does breastfeeding benefits mothers as it is beneficial to the baby? The fact is that breastfeeding is not only good for babies but is also great for mothers both physically and emotionally.
And yet most of the time mothers consider the benefits of breastfeeding solely for their babies. Perhaps if they will start considering that continuing to breastfeed is also providing them numerous health benefits, maybe mothers won’t try to quit breastfeeding their child when they run into any problem or at least not consider it merely as an obligation or duty. Dual benefits are twice the reasons to breastfeed.
In This Article
10 Ways Breastfeeding Benefits Mothers
Breastfeeding is not only beneficial for infants but also offers numerous advantages for mothers. The health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers are vast, and include protection against so many diseases. Below are just ten of them:
1. Quick Postpartum Recovery
The sucking action of your baby after childbirth initiates the release of oxytocin hormone inside your body. This hormone not only helps the breasts to release milk but at the same time starts promoting uterine involution – returning to the non-pregnant state in women. Breastfeeding women recover early and better than those who do not breastfeed.
2. Psychological Recovery
Hormones associated with breastfeeding help nursing mothers in forming a uniquely special bond with their newborns. Prolactin hormone produces the calm relaxing sensation that allows you to focus more on your child and also helps you in forgetting the agony of labor.
3. Prevents The Postpartum Hemorrhage
Postpartum hemorrhage is defined as the loss of more than 500ml of blood after delivery but the mothers who start breastfeeding immediately after childbirth prevent themselves from undergoing this life-threatening condition. Breastfeeding prompts the release of oxytocin hormone naturally inside your body and thus aids in the process
4. Conserves Iron In Mother’s Body
In breastfeeding mothers, delay of periods is quite a common condition and they can stay in this amenorrhea condition for several months. This natural delay of periods provides them with the important benefit of – conserving iron in their body. Apart from it breastfeeding also provides natural spacing between two pregnancies by delaying ovulation. Though this depends on the baby’s frequency of feeding and other factors concerned with the mother’s body.
5. Aids In Weight Loss
Breastfeeding uses at least 200 to 500 calories per day. This loss of calories in breastfeeding mothers happens without putting any effort on their part whereas bottle-feeding mothers will have to do regular exercise for almost an hour daily just to burn the same amount of calories. Thus breastfeeding mothers lose weight more easily as compared to non-nursing mothers.
6. Reduced Risk Of Osteoporosis
Breastfeeding women have a reduced risk of osteoporosis as compared to non-nursing women. In fact, there are some studies that suggest that once the mothers start weaning their children their bone density returns to its pre-pregnancy state or may have higher levels. Also, women who don’t nurse their babies have a higher risk of hip fracture after menopause.
7. Reduced Risk Of Ovarian And Uterine Cancer
Ovarian and uterine cancers have been found commonly in non-breastfeed women as they experience repeated ovulatory cycles and are more exposed to higher levels of estrogen. During lactation, estrogen levels drop and there are lesser chances of stimulating the uterine lining. This accumulates lesser chances of these tissues becoming cancerous
8. Reduce The Risk Of Breast Cancer
Breastfeeding women have a lesser risk of developing breast cancer and recent studies have found that when women breastfeed their child from 6 to 24 months in their reproductive lifetime, they may also reduce the risk of breast cancer by 25 percent. The more a woman breastfeeds, the lesser the chances of breast cancer
9. Reduced Risks To Heart
Women who breastfeed their children for longer periods of time have a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease as compared to women who had not breastfed. Also, they generally have high HDL cholesterol, and this good cholesterol profile lowers the risk of numerous heart problems in them.
10. Can Even Save Money
Breastfeeding is a natural free-of-cost process that not only provides you with numerous health benefits but also helps you in saving money spent on formula feed and equipment. It makes mothers’ life easier and simpler as there is no need to mix, prepare, use, wash, and sterilize the feeding equipment.
(Read about how breastfeeding benefits babies here)
There is no doubt about the fact that breastfeeding definitely provides positive outcomes for both child and mother but apart from providing health benefits. Breastfeeding can give you a maternal fulfillment that can never be compared, it is a special emotional bonding experience that can only be experienced by mothers.
FAQ’s
1. Is 3 Months Of Breastfeeding Enough?
While any duration of breastfeeding is beneficial for both the mother and the baby, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby’s life, followed by continued breastfeeding alongside complementary foods for up to two years or beyond. Therefore, three months of breastfeeding may not meet the full recommended duration, but it can still provide important health benefits to the baby.
2. Why Is My Baby Still Hungry After Breastfeeding?
There could be various reasons why a baby may still appear hungry after breastfeeding. It is possible that the baby is experiencing a growth spurt and has an increased appetite. Additionally, factors such as insufficient milk supply, inefficient latch, or a baby’s high metabolism can contribute to the baby feeling hungry despite breastfeeding. It may be helpful to consult a lactation consultant or pediatrician to assess the situation and provide guidance on addressing the baby’s feeding needs.
