The first 2 to 3 years of a child's life are crucial for their development and growth. It is best to be educated and knowledgeable about what is best for your child.

Breastmilk is milk produced by a mothers' mammary glands found in the breast of a female human to feed her child.

I am a breastfeeding mom, and if given another chance, I will choose to breastfeed all over again.

Breastfeeding is a healthy way of feeding your child. You can breastfeed your child at any time of the day or anywhere you are comfortable. Aside from it is totally free of charge, it has a lot of nutritional values and benefits.

Breastmilk contains hundreds of valuable substances in human milk – probably more that have yet to be identified – including:

• antibodies and white blood cells

• probiotics (as many as 600 different species!)

• hormones

• growth factors

• antibacterial properties

• oligosaccharides (special carbohydrates that encourage the growth of friendly bacteria in the digestive system)

• long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (important for the development of their brain, eyes, and nervous system)

• cytokines (special proteins involved in cell communication and immune system formation)

• and many, many more.

Did you know?

Breastmilk is also called "Liquid Gold".

Breastmilk has often been called the "liquid gold" of infant nutrition. Unlike milk substitute (baby formula), the composition of human milk is not static and it adapts to naturally meet your baby's needs.

Health benefits of breastfeeding for your baby:

Scientific research suggests a substantial number of potential health benefits from breastfeeding. These benefits include:

• Decreased rates of sudden infant death syndrome in the first year of life (an effect that becomes even stronger when breastfeeding is exclusive)

• Lower postneonatal infant mortality rates (a reduction of approximately 21% in the U.S.)

• Decreased risk of the baby developing eczema, asthma, and food allergies later in life.

• Slightly enhanced performance on tests of cognitive development.

• Lower incidence of infectious diseases, such as diarrhea, pneumonia, ear infection, respiratory tract illness bacterial meningitis, urinary tract infection, bacteremia, necrotizing enterocolitis, and late-onset sepsis in preterm infants

• Improved dental health with less risk of tooth decay.

• Reduction of the risk of obesity later in life when exclusively breastfed for at least 4 months

• Decreased rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, lymphoma, leukemia, and Hodgkin disease in older children and adults

• And if this wasn’t enough, breastfeeding also exposes your baby – through the milk, you’re producing – to the varying tastes and flavor profiles of the foods you eat, which can influence food acceptance and preferences when she herself begins to eat food, and throughout her lifetime as well.

Breastfeeding is healthier for mommies too.

Healthy benefits of Breastfeeding for moms physically:

• Promotes faster weight loss after birth, burning about 500 extra calories a day to build and maintain a milk supply.

• Stimulates the uterus to contract and return to normal size.

• Less postpartum bleeding

• Fewer urinary tract infections

• Less chance of anemia

• Less risk of postpartum depression and a more positive mood

Breastfeeding is healthier for moms emotionally:

• Breastfeeding produces the naturally soothing hormones oxytocin and prolactin that promote stress reduction and positive feelings in the nursing mother.

• Increased confidence and self-esteem

• Increased calmness. Breastfed babies cry less overall, and have fewer incidences of childhood illness. Breastfeeding can support the wellness of body, mind, and spirit for the whole family.

• Breastfeeding makes travel easier. Breast milk is always clean and the right temperature.

• Physical/emotional bonding between mother and child is increased. Breastfeeding promotes more skin-to-skin contact, more holding, and stroking. Many feel that affectionate bonding during the first years of life helps reduces social and behavioral problems in both children and adults.

• Breastfeeding mothers learn to read their infant’s cues and babies learn to trust caregivers. This helps mold the infant’s early behavior.

Other Fascinating facts about Breastmilk

• Breast milk also contains antibodies and live white blood cells that help your baby fight against infection. And, when you or your baby are sick, the amount of these cells in your breast milk increases.

• Colostrum (your first milk) contains special proteins that coat your baby’s intestinal tract to protect from harmful bacteria right from the start.

• The smell and taste of your breast milk changes depending on the foods you eat. Exposing your little one to more flavors during breastfeeding can lead them to be less picky eaters once you begin introducing solids.

• And when your baby does start eating solids, you can use breast milk to replace cow’s milk in recipes.

• Breast milk is not always white. It can be blue, green, yellow, gold, pink, or orange depending on what you eat or drink. Don’t worry, it’s OK for the baby!

• Your breast milk is constantly changing to meet the needs of your growing baby. From month-to-month, throughout the week, day-to-day, and even throughout a single feeding.

• Moms of preemies or premature have breast milk with more protein, fat, and other minerals for bone and brain growth as well as the most protective factors to prevent illness and infection.

  Premature babies fed more breast milk in the first 28 days of life have better brain development by the time their original birth date arrives and see benefits to IQ and memory skills later in childhood.

Most women are physically able to breastfeed. It is rare for a mother to be physically unable to breastfeed. It doesn't matter whether you have very small or large breasts, or if you have inverted nipples.

It takes courage, determination, patience, motivation, and support for a mom to be able to breastfeed her child. And no matter how you feed your child, is always a great time to strengthen the bond with your child.

The decision to breastfeed or formula feed your baby is a personal decision.

Sources :

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15274-the-benefits-of-breastfeeding-for-baby--for-mom

https://www.nanobebe.com/the-amazing-nutritional-qualities-of-breast-milk/

#proudbreastfeedingmom!

@eommaZel ✍🏻