There are loads of reasons to breastfeed your baby: And your own health is definitely one of them. According to a recent study, women who breastfeed their babies for six months or more may be able to cut their risk of developing diabetes in the future by nearly half.
The study by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine showed that women who breastfed for six months or less had a 47 per cent reduction in their risk of developing type 2 diabetes, compared with those who did not breastfeed at all. For women who breastfed for six months or less, their risk was reduced by 25 per cent.
Breastfeeding may help reduce diabetes risk in breastfeeding mothers via hormones that act in the pancreas, controlling blood sugar and insulin levels.
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Also, any parent knows, formula milk is expensive (especially in Singapore!) and a big part of the baby budget. With the average prices of infant milk formula in Singapore increasing 120 per cent over 10 years, it’s no wonder that some local families are struggling with the cost of feeding their babies formula milk.
While many mums choose to use formula milk for convenience, or because they have issues with breastfeeding, feeding baby au naturel with breast milk can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Here are 10 other perks of breastfeeding your child – some of which you may not even have been aware of!
This is arguably one of the biggest reasons to breastfeed. Breastfeeding your child by latching is a wonderful experience, and the act of nourishing a baby fills mums with a sense of pride and love.
Bottle-feeding is great when mums need someone else to help take over feeding, whether it’s Dad, grandparents, or a babysitter. But when a mum is with baby, nothing beats the convenience of letting her little one latch on and feed straight away. No washing up, no warming up milk: just feed and go!
Breastfeeding has been proven to reduce a child’s risk of being overweight as a teenager or adult. This is because breastfed babies are less likely to drink more milk than they need compared to their formula-fed counterparts, which leads to healthier eating patterns later in life. Breast milk also contains less insulin than formula, and insulin stimulates the creation of fat.
Being pregnant and subsequently giving birth gives rise to the dreaded “mummy tummy,” All those extra kilos you accumulate are no joke, and baby weight is notoriously difficult to shed. By breastfeeding, you’ll also help your uterus to contract faster after giving birth, so you can get your pre-baby waist back quicker. Breastfeeding helps you burn 300 to 500 calories a day, so as long as you’re not consuming too many calories to negate this, you’ll enjoy the slimming benefits, whether you’re latching baby or pumping milk.
Breast milk is full of antibodies that target pathogens in a baby’s surroundings. Studies show that exclusively breast-fed babies are far less likely to contract diseases and develop allergies than formula-fed ones, because they possess stronger immune systems. Because a child’s immune response does not reach its full strength until about the age of five, UNICEF and the World Health Organization both advise breast-feeding to “two years and beyond.”
Babies who drink formula, which is mostly from cow’s milk or soy milk, tend to have more allergic reactions than breastfed babies. After all, breast milk is specifically designed for human babies.
It is believed that immune factors like secretory IgA, which is only found in breast milk, protects a baby’s intestinal tract, giving Baby a healthier gut. This can help reduces the chances of allergies and intestinal inflammation.
Breast milk contains the relaxing chemical oxytocin, which helps to lull babies to sleep when they’re feeling fretful. This is especially present in foremilk, which is the milk produced by a mother when her baby immediately starts suckling.
According to KK Women’s And Children’s Hospital, breastfeeding “can be a stressor for inexperienced mothers, but can also be therapeutic for mothers who are successful in nursing their infants.” Nursing triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin in your body – the same chemical your baby receives through your breast milk. So breastfeeding can be therapeutic for both you and your baby.
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Women who breastfeed have a lower risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis, as lactation helps our bodies absorb calcium more efficiently. Breastfeeding mothers also have fewer periods, which reduces their exposure to estrogen, which can cause some types of breast and ovarian cancer. A 2009 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that by breastfeeding, women with a family history of breast cancer reduced their risk of getting the disease before menopause by nearly 60 per cent.
According to breastfeeding organisation La Leche League, research shows that breastfeeding delays the return of most women’s periods. Almost all mothers who are fully breastfeeding will not have their menstrual periods for the first six months after birth, which is called lactational amenorrhea. Some women don’t see the return of their periods while they’re breastfeeding for years, which is super convenient and a natural (but not foolproof) form of contraception.
Remember, breastfeeding is a personal choice, and you should always do what works for yourself and your baby. Being a mum is hard enough: do what’s best for you!
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