The Benefits Of Breastfeeding For Any New Baby

June 16, 2023 by Marjorie R. Rogers, MA (English), Certified Consultant

Many mothers all across Australia find themselves in a sometimes difficult situation because they are not sure whether or not they want to breastfeed their baby. There is a wealth of information online on the pros and cons for each but when all is said and done, it seems that there isn’t really a downside to breastfeeding and so it is something that you really should consider. As a new mother, you want what is best for your kids and you want him or her to have the best nutrition possible so that they can grow up to be big and strong.

One of the first things that you need to invest in is nursing clothes to make the whole feeding process so much easier for everyone. If this is your first baby then you can’t be expected to know the ins and outs of taking care of the baby and if you are somewhat reluctant to engage in breastfeeding then maybe you need to learn about some of the many benefits. The following are just a few of those.

• It provides the right nutrition – If you talk to your midwife or any other medical practitioner, they will gladly tell you that it is recommended that you try to breastfeed your child for at least six months and maybe a little longer if you can. The breast milk that your body produces has everything contained within it with regard to nutrition and vitamins that your growing baby needs.
• It’s great for babies’ immune systems – At the very beginning of their lives, babies need to be able to handle various viruses and bacteria that will come their way. The first few months of their lives are critical in this fight and so this is why it is best that your child enjoys your breast milk because when you as the mother are exposed to such viruses, your body starts to produce antibodies and these can be found in your breast milk.
• It provides healthy weight gain – It is important that your child begins eating in a healthy manner and various studies suggest that a child that has been breastfeeding for six months or longer doesn’t become an overweight child and doesn’t suffer from obesity. Your new baby will only continue to eat until they are full and so this encourages them to adopt healthy eating patterns.

Every parent wants their children to get a great education and to do really well in life and it has been found by certain studies that breastfeeding helps with your child’s brain development. The studies also suggest that babies who have been breastfed tend to do better academically later on in life. This has all been good news for your child but there is good news for you as the mother as well. It has been found that mothers who breastfeed have a lower incidence of depression and lower levels of stress and anxiety. It seems then that breastfeeding is a win-win situation for everyone involved and so it makes sense to do it rather than not do it at all.