Breastfeeding is a healthy and natural act a mother can do for her child. It strengthens the bond between mother and child and gives the newborn the best nutrition possible. But breastfeeding has much more benefits than just short-term health gains for mother and baby.
We explore the many advantages of starting breastfeeding as soon as possible after delivery and continuing it exclusively for the first six months. Additionally, we will provide valuable guidance about choosing the best pediatrician in Dubai to help you and your child with nursing.
Immediate Health Advantages for the Infant
For newborns, initiating breastfeeding at an early age has numerous immediate health benefits.
Benefits to Nutrition
Breast milk is the best source of nutrients for the majority of babies. It provides exactly what a baby needs in perfectly balanced proportions for the first six months of growth.
Breast milk is remarkably adaptive; it changes over time to meet the growing baby’s nutritional needs, especially in that critical first month. The first milk produced, called colostrum, is low in sugar and high in essential nutrients, vitamins, and proteins. This nutrient-dense powerhouse is essential for the baby’s developing digestive system and preventing hypoglycemia.
Although breast milk has a natural abundance of all the necessary vitamins and minerals, vitamin D is typically absent. There may be a need for this particular nutrient in supplements.
Enhanced Immune System
Babies can fend off microorganisms and viruses way to the excessive stage of antibodies discovered in breast milk. These antibodies, which are intended to shield the mother from infections, were directly produced by her immune system.
By forming a barrier that protects the infant’s digestive system and airway, these antibodies significantly reduce the risk of infection. Other immune factors found in breast milk include cytokines, lysozyme, and lactoferrin. These components help prevent asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, ear infections, gastrointestinal disorders, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) by lowering inflammation and boosting the baby’s immune system.
Lower Death Rates
Breastfeeding reduces the threat of contamination and new child loss of life extensively within the first hour after delivery. It promotes increased oxytocin production in the mother’s body, which lessens postpartum hemorrhage and aids in uterine contraction. Breastfeeding exclusively and from an early age has many advantages, according to the World Health Organization. 20,000 moms and 823,000 children could be spared from death annually, according to World Health Organization estimates. According to the World Health Organization, breastfeeding should continue until the child is at least two years old to reap the longer-term health benefits.
Long-Term Developmental and Health Benefits
Early breastfeeding has many long-term health and developmental benefits in addition to offering the baby immediate health benefits. These benefits include improved cognitive development as well as a lower chance of acquiring chronic illnesses later on.
Enhanced Cognitive Growth
Special fats found in breast milk, such as arachidonic acid (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are essential for the development of the brain and nervous system. Compared to formula-fed infants, breast-fed infants have higher blood and brain tissue concentrations of these important fats. Studies reveal that breastfed children achieve better cognitive results. When compared to their peers who were fed a formula, they performed better academically and had higher IQs and more sophisticated language skills.
Breastfeeding has nutritional advantages, but it’s also thought to improve the relationship between mother and child and improve the child’s chances of developing emotionally and socially.
Reduced Chance of Persistent Illnesses
Breastfeeding helps prevent several chronic conditions from developing later in a child’s life. These ailments include high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Moreover, breastfeeding may protect children against certain cancers, including lymphoma and leukemia. There are several theories as to why breastfeeding offers protection. These include the modulation of the immune system and the gut microbiome, the transfer of advantageous compounds found in the mother’s breast milk, and the regulation of the child’s hormonal and metabolic processes that govern appetite and energy balance.
Positive Effects on Mother and Child’s Emotions and Psychology
Early breastfeeding has great psychological and emotional benefits in addition to being beneficial for the physical health of the mother and child. These advantages include enhanced postpartum recuperation, better mental health, and a closer bond between mother and child.
Strengthened Mother-Child Bond
Because breastfeeding promotes more skin-to-skin contact, holding, and stroking, it fosters a special bonding experience that deepens the bond between mother and child. According to experts, this early, loving bonding is essential for lowering social and behavioral problems in children and adults. Breastfeeding increases the secretion of oxytocin, a hormone that helps mothers relax and focus better on their babies, strengthening their bond.
In addition to promoting intense love and attachment, oxytocin helps mothers decode their babies’ signals, helping them develop confidence. The child’s behavioral and emotional development depends heavily on this early interaction.
Recovery from Childbirth and Mental Health
Breastfeeding improves the mother’s emotional well-being and aids in her postpartum recovery. It reduces inflammation, which has a connection to the body’s responses to stress. Elevations in inflammation have been linked to a higher prevalence of depression.
Breastfeeding can also improve the mother’s sleep quality, which raises her morale and increases her energy. Additionally, it works well to reduce the risk of postpartum depression, which affects about 10% of new mothers. This type of depression can affect a mother’s ability to care for her newborn and herself, as well as the growth and development of the child.
The hormone balance, stress reduction, and emotional support that breastfeeding provides make it a natural barrier against postpartum depression.
Conclusion
When breastfeeding is started as soon as the baby is born, it is a great way to support the health, development, and happiness of both the mother and the child. International health organizations like the World Health Organization advise this strategy, which promotes economic stability and a healthy diet.
It is strongly advised that newborns start breastfeeding as soon as possible and do so exclusively for six months. Speak with renowned pediatricians in Dubai to enhance this experience. Dubai’s pediatric clinics and hospitals provide readily available support and professional care when needed. Never forget that breastfeeding is good for your baby’s and the world’s health.
You can consult Dr. Olfa Koobar and learn how breastfeeding varies over time and the amount of milk your developing baby needs.
