13 Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Mother
9 Sep 2022
It is a well-known fact that breastfeeding is extremely beneficial for the newborn. But did you know that it also has numerous positive effects on the nursing woman? When breastfeeding, a mother not only feels confident that she is giving the best food to her baby, but she also shares her immune system through breast milk so that the baby grows healthy. Read more about the additional benefits of breastfeeding for the mother:
1. The mother can feed her baby anywhere and anytime, immediately on demand - in the first months the pressure and responsibilities for every woman who has just become a mother are enormous. Therefore, the convenience of being able to offer food to her baby anytime and anywhere is a really big plus.
2. Breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing certain diseases - it has been proven by many researchers that breastfeeding women suffer significantly less from breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or anemia. Moreover, if a mother breastfed for up to 6 months (as recommended by the WHO), she would experience an even longer protection effect.
3. Women who breastfeed go absent from work up to 6 times less - because the baby received antibodies from the mother through breast milk, it would more successfully fight viruses and bacteria in its earliest infant years. As a result, the mother could resume her work duties more confidently, without much interruption. 4. Breastfeeding stimulates faster weight loss after childbirth - nursing mothers burn about 500 extra calories per day to supply and maintain a certain amount of milk needed for the baby, which inevitably helps them to lose weight and get back in shape faster.
5. Breastfeeding stimulates the uterus to contract and return to its normal size - breastfeeding, as part of the normal biological cycle, stimulates the release of a hormone called oxytocin, which causes the uterus to contract.
6. Less postpartum bleeding – according to studies, most women who breastfeed after giving birth have less postpartum bleeding. This is again due to the hormone oxytocin produced by the body during the breastfeeding period.
7. Fewer urinary tract infections - the protective power of breastfeeding is enormous, as it also protects against the development of urinary tract infections.
8. Lower risk of postpartum depression and more positive mood - knowing that a mother is producing enough breast milk for her baby, she would feel calmer and more confident in herself, which reduces the risk of developing postpartum depression. As already mentioned above, breastfeeding stimulates the production of the naturally soothing hormones oxytocin and prolactin, which reduce stress and contribute to the positive emotions of the nursing mother.
9. Increased confidence and self-esteem - breastfeeding is a natural postpartum phenomenon, which, unfortunately, would not unlock for every woman who gives birth. Therefore, the availability of breast milk and the unlocking of normal, prolonged lactation contribute to the higher confidence and self-esteem of breastfeeding women.
10. Increased calmness – breastfed babies cry less in general and have fewer cases of childhood illnesses. Breastfeeding can support the health of the body, mind, and spirit of the whole family. And the better the mother feels, the better she is able to take care of her baby.
11. Breastfeeding makes traveling easier – undoubtedly, travel and family trips in the first months after birth are significantly more difficult to organize when you plan food of the right temperature and consistency to bring in your luggage. Breast milk, on the other hand, is always clean and at the right temperature for the baby, which significantly facilitates even a short trip.
12. The physical/emotional bond between mother and child increases – breastfeeding encourages more skin-to-skin contact and more time in the mother’s arms. The physical touch between a nursing mother and her baby builds a significantly stronger and unbreakable emotional bond. Many believe that it is this attachment during the first years of life that helps reduce social and behavioral problems later in life in both children and adults.
13. Nursing mothers learn to read their baby’s signals better - the closeness of breastfeeding forms not only an emotional bond but also accelerates the process of getting to know the mother’s facial features and, accordingly, learning the habits of the infant. Therefore, babies learn to trust their caregivers, and mothers can more easily recognize when a baby’s reaction is not typical for them and what causes it. By providing one of the primary needs of the newborn through breastfeeding, the mother not only responds in a natural way to the need of her baby, but she feels more confident and calmer. These purely psychological benefits, as well as all physical ones, have a positive effect on the mother in both the short and long term.
The Medrec:M mobile application also helps track the health status of nursing mothers and their babies. In the app, you can fill in all postpartum symptoms, manage your baby’s profile, share real-time information with your attending physician, schedule your regular check-ups and even do them online from the comfort of your home via video link directly in the app. Download it now for Android or iOS devices.
Resources:
Breastfeeding Benefits Both Baby and Mom
The Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby & for Mom