The best natural way to feed a newborn baby is through breastfeeding. Its health benefits are extended not only to the baby but to the mother as well. The breast milk is the best source of nutrients that the baby needs to keep healthy and strong. Besides, it establishes a strong and special bond between the mother and the baby.

The immediate benefits of breastfeeding are as follows:

• Reduce/prevents sudden infant death syndromes.

• Baby smells so clean and fresh all the time.

• Prevents child obesity.

• Prevents child disease such as childhood cancers, diabetes, allergy and asthma.

• Encourages better IQ development.

• Promotes good eyesight.

• Encourages growth of good teeth and good jaw development.

• Reduce risks of infections.

• Baby’s bowels are easy to clean up, has a more pleasant smell – or no smell at all.

The benefits of breastfeeding for the mother are as follows:

• Lose weight easily and regain her natural body form.

• Lessens risks of breast, cervical and ovarian cancers.

• Lessens risk of osteoporosis.

• Reduce occurrence of postpartum bleedings, anemia.

• Delays or prevents pregnancy.

• Good for diabetic mothers because insulin needs are at normal levels.

• Good for the psychological being of the mother as it builds confidence.

• Provides enough rest/convenience for mother because feeding can be done lying on bed.

Breastfeeding extends its benefits to the whole family as well. There would be no additional costs for milk formulas because milk is available especially at night when the baby needs it immediately. There would be more convenience to feeding as there are no bottle formulas to prepare or other feeding preparations to do. The family saves more on healthcare because there would be lesser prescriptions and hospitalization for baby and mother because both are healthy most of the time.

The breastfeeding benefits still continue even if the baby has grown up to its adulthood. These benefits include the following:

• Protection against constipation and stomach upsets.

• Protection against bronchitis, kidney infections and respiratory illness.

• Reduce tooth decay.

• Lessens risk of heart disease, diabetes, gastroenteritis and cancers.

• Increase bone density.

• Overall good psychological, emotional and physiological features.

Breastfeeding is good for the baby because breast milk is the gentlest kind of nutrition for the baby’s sensitive internal systems and it contains the best nutrients as well. Breast milk is also easily digested and does not require too much energy for the baby‘s digestive tract to break it down to get the nutrients that the baby needs. The best benefit of breastfeeding is the strong emotional bond between mother and baby that would last for a lifetime.

Anthony Jorgensen

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