What are the Benefits of Breast Milk?

Breast milk is the ideal source of nutrition for little ones, and breastfeeding has numerous long-term benefits for both mother and baby. Experts have also focused on the importance of breast milk in recent years. Let’s see what are the benefits of breast milk and how does it work miracles on the baby’s body?

What are the benefits of breast milk?

Breast milk is an ideal food source for babies!

The nutrients that will fully feed your baby are included in the amount that should be in the content of breast milk. breast milk; It contains fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals necessary for baby’s growth, digestive system and brain development. It also responds to individual needs as its composition changes as the baby grows.

It has immune-boosting properties in babies!

Immune system weakness in infants is manifested by frequent illness. But don’t worry, research shows that breast milk has the ability to protect against diseases by strengthening the baby’s immune system. Breast milk fights common diseases by producing antibodies that will support the immune system in babies with the proteins, vitamins, oils and other components in its content. The benefits of breast milk for the infant immune system are as follows:

• Diarrhea is less common in breastfed children and passes more quickly. 
• It reduces the risk of constipation. Don’t let your little one suffer because of constipation.
• Breast milk, which is the most important immune-boosting food for babies, reduces the incidence of diseases such as pneumonia, colds, otitis media and urinary tract infections.
• It allows various allergies to appear at a later age and to have a milder course. prof. Dr. Yonca Tabak has something to say.
• It makes skin diseases such as eczema less common.
• Since it prevents the decrease in red blood cells, the problem of anemia is not common in breastfed babies.
• If the baby is only breastfed when introduced to wheat foods, it prevents celiac disease.
• It reduces the risk of obesity and provides protection against obesity.
• It reduces the incidence of certain types of diabetes.
• Colic is less common in breastfed babies. Beware of prolonged crying.
• It prevents the development of some chronic intestinal diseases.
• Breastfeeding protects babies against
• It provides protection against some types of cancer.
• Gas pains are less common in breastfed babies.

It makes it easy for mother and child to bond!

While breastfeeding provides psychological support to the baby, it also plays an important role in establishing a secure bond between the mother and the baby. Breastfeeding mothers find the opportunity to spend more time with their babies. Looking lovingly into the eyes of the baby while breastfeeding and saying nice words to the baby strengthens this bond.

It facilitates digestion!

It’s easier for babies to digest breast milk than cow’s milk and formula. Since breast milk does not stay in the stomach as long as formula, breastfed babies vomit less. Breast milk helps the baby’s digestive system to develop and work.

Increases success in schools!

Teachers are more satisfied with breastfed children! Children who have been breastfed for more than 3 months have better results from intelligence tests and teacher evaluations than other children.

What does breast milk contain?

The milk that comes from the breasts for the first 7 days after birth is called colostrum. High in nutritional value, colostrum contains three times the protein (including all essential amino acids) than mature breast milk. Plus, this milk is packed with fat-soluble vitamins and minerals.

Another feature is that while the rate of carbohydrates, fat and lactose is low; It is rich in sodium, potassium and cholesterol that support the brain, heart and nervous system.

Breast milk has a natural balance of vitamins. It contains vitamins A, B, C and E and some vitamin D. In addition to these, in the structure of breast milk;

• Antibody (protects against diseases.),
• Lactoferrin (Fights Infections.),
• Lysozyme (Increases the activity of antibodies.),
• Musin (It sticks to them to protect from germs.),
• There are red blood cells (actively fighting bacteria.).

Although it contains some amount, the vitamin D in milk is not enough for the baby. 

What increases breast milk?

One of the most important things for breastfeeding mothers is whether the milk is sufficient for the baby. There are many things you can do, such as adjusting the frequency of breastfeeding, finding the right breastfeeding position, staying away from stress, and feeding with foods that increase breast milk, so that your baby is well fed and not deprived of the many benefits we have listed above.

What do medical authorities say about breastfeeding?

Pediatric and Neonatal Diseases Specialist Dr. Gulnihal Sharman; Medical authority institutions shaping world health such as the World Health Organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Gynecology, the Canadian Academy of Pediatrics and UNICEF agree that only breast milk should be given to babies for the first 6 months.

Although these institutions do not specify a very precise time period for how much breast milk should be given, they say the following:

• World Health Organization: “Breastfeeding should be continued until 2 years of age and beyond.”
• American Academy of Pediatrics: “It should continue until the age of one, and then it should be left to the baby and mother.”
• American Academy of Gynecology: “It should be sustained as long as possible.”

Benefits of breast milk for breastfeeding mother

You have learned about the benefits of breast milk for the baby, but that’s not all. Long-term studies reveal that breastfeeding has many benefits for the mother as well.

Breast milk can heal many ailments, from getting close to your baby to the weight you gain during pregnancy, from breast cancer to osteoporosis problems. In other words, the benefits of breast milk for adults are too many to be underestimated.