Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding, a best way of providing a best possible food for the child and the childs natural right is now considered to be burden by the modern mothers. There is a myth going on about the breast feeding that if beautiful mother breastfeeds their child, they will loose their beauty; which, in fact is a completely a myth, the real fact is that if mother keep on breastfeeding the child, her beauty will be more nourished and she will became more prettier and will be protected from diseases as well.
Breast milk is the primary source of food for the child and is one of the nutritious food that child could ever have. Breast milk has all the required minerals and vitamins that the child would need for the first month of life. Excessive breastfeeding to child for the first six months is the optimal for the child. Beast milk is a protective barrier between the child and it’s fatality with the disease and infectious agents. It provides immunity power to the baby including IgG, which is helpful to fight against the lots of disease and built up the immune system of the child. It helps in development of cognitive part and the sensory part of the child as well. Breast feeding not only benefits the child but also benefits the mother as well by reducing the risk of ovarian cancer and breast cancer.
There are lots of benefits of the breastfeeding which I will categories as the benefit for mother, child and society

Benefit of breastfeeding for child:
• Breast milk has agents (called antibodies) in it to help protect infants from bacteria and viruses. Recent studies show that babies who are not exclusively breastfed for 6 months are more likely to develop a wide range of infectious diseases including ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory illnesses and have more hospitalizations. Also, infants who are not breastfed have a 21% higher postneonatal infant mortality rate in the U.S.
• Some studies suggest that infants who are not breastfed have higher rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the first year of life, and higher rates of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, lymphoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's disease, overweight and obesity, high cholesterol and asthma. More research in these areas is needed (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2005).
• Babies who are not breastfed are sick more often and have more doctor's visits
• As a result of breastfeeding, breastfed infants grow exactly the way they should. They tend to gain less unnecessary weight and to be leaner. This may result in being less overweight later in life.
• Premature babies do better when breastfed compared to premature babies who are fed formula.
• Breastfed babies score slightly higher on IQ tests, especially babies who were born pre-maturely.

Benefit to the mothers by breastfeeding:
• Nursing uses up extra calories, making it easier to lose the pounds of pregnancy. It also helps the uterus to get back to its original size and lessens any bleeding a woman may have after giving birth.
• Breastfeeding, especially exclusive breastfeeding (no supplementing with formula), delays the return of normal ovulation and menstrual cycles. (However, you should still talk with your doctor or nurse about birth control choices.)
• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and possibly the risk of hip fractures and osteoporosis after menopause.
• Breastfeeding makes your life easier. It saves time and money. You do not have to purchase, measure, and mix formula. There are no bottles to warm in the middle of the night!
• A mother can give her baby immediate satisfaction by providing her breast milk when her baby is hungry.
• Breastfeeding requires a mother to take some quiet relaxed time for herself and her baby.
• Breastfeeding can help a mother to bond with her baby. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm and comforted.
• Breastfeeding mothers may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness and bonding with their infants.

Benefit for the society
• Breastfeeding saves on health care costs. Total medical care costs for the nation are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants since breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.
• Breastfeeding contributes to a more productive workforce. Breastfeeding mothers miss less work, as their infants are sick less often. Employer medical costs also are lower and employee productivity is higher.
• Breastfeeding is better for our environment because there is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies.

So as far i am concerned, breastfeeding is the best way to keep child, mother and society healthy in it’s perspective and all the mother should keep on breastfeeding their own child.