Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
Should I breastfeed my baby? How many months should I nurse? Is breast milk that much better than formula? Is it worth it if I go back to work? If I didn’t breastfeed my last baby, should I try with this baby? Of the countless choices you face before your baby arrives, the choice to breastfeed is one of the most important! How to nourish your baby is a very personal decision that is yours to make. It impacts your baby’s health, your health, and more! Let’s dive into understanding why breast is best and the vast benefits of breastfeeding.
Before we list the endless benefits of breastfeeding for mom and baby, it is important to first understand the superpowers of breastfeeding.
As your baby leaves the safety and warmth of the womb, she will face the unfamiliar smells, sights, and sounds of the new world around her. She will crave the security of your voice, touch, and nourishment. Her instincts will tell her to search for your nipple and to suck (3). So in other words, your baby is born knowing she needs to breastfeed (4)! Breastfeeding satisfies every reflex and every need of your newborn baby (1). It provides a beautiful transition for you and your baby from pregnancy to infancy (5; 6).
Except in rare circumstances, health-care providers universally recommend breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend exclusively breastfeeding for the first six months. They recommend you continue breastfeeding, supplementing with foods, until at least your baby’s first birthday. (WHO recommends breastfeeding until at least two years old (2).)
Despite the overwhelming evidence that “breast is best”, only 25% of babies are breastfed exclusively through the first six months. Only 58% of babies are receiving some breast milk at six months old (2). Bummer!
Your body naturally creates the best food for your baby. Or should I say the breast food for your baby? I can see you rolling your eyes at me. Like all mammal milk, human breast milk is species specific. In other words, cows create the best milk for cows and humans create the best milk for humans. For example, cow’s milk contains specific proteins that help muscles grow and protect against cow diseases. Whereas, human milk contains specific proteins that help the brain develop and protect against human diseases (3).
Breastfeeding is normal for your body! During puberty and throughout pregnancy, your amazing body prepares to breastfeed (1). Once the placenta is delivered, your body knows to start producing milk (3). When unfamiliar with breastfeeding, many women choose not to breastfeed. To help normalize breastfeeding, click here to learn how breast milk is produced.
Breast milk adapts to meet the exact needs of your baby at any given moment (7). Read that sentence again! It’s amazing! Your breast milk is unique to you and your baby, and it will change to meet the demands of whatever your baby needs (1; 6).
Breast milk drastically changes in the first few weeks of your baby’s life (6). In your baby’s first few days, the milk you produce is called colostrum. Colostrum has the following properties (6):
Throughout the first week of your baby’s life, colostrum transitions to mature milk (4). Mature milk is designed for your rapidly growing baby. It has the following properties (6):
If your baby is born preterm, your colostrum and mature milk will produce more protein, different types of fats, and antibodies that a preterm baby specifically needs (4; 6).
Breast milk changes fat content depending on how long it’s been since the last feeding (5; 6). It changes if it’s hot or cold outside, by adjusting the water or fat content (7).
Breast milk even changes during each feeding! Breast milk starts out low in fat and gradually increases. Hindmilk, or the thicker milk produced a few minutes into each feeding, provides more calories, fat, and protein. So this helps your baby end each feeding feeling full and satisfied (7; 8).
As mentioned before, breast milk contains antibodies that help prevent sickness (4). For example, if you develop a cold while breastfeeding, your body produces antibodies to help you fight that cold. These special antibodies will also be passed to your baby through your breast milk. This new and improved breast milk recipe will help your baby heal quickly from the cold or help him avoid getting the cold altogether (6).
Breastfeeding works as a supply and demand system. The more your baby eats, the more milk you produce. This allows your baby to receive just the right amount of nutrients she needs at any stage of development (6). During your baby’s growth spurts, you will be able to give more milk, providing more proteins, fats, calories, and nutrients for your growing baby (6; 7). In the first month of breastfeeding, your breasts will make about 16.5oz of milk a day. By six months, you will produce a whopping 27oz per day (8)! As your baby gets older and starts eating other foods, your milk supply will gradually decrease (6).
Turns out that your breast milk recipe is impossible to duplicate (6). Scientists continually identify important breast milk components, and formula manufacturers can’t keep up (7)! Breast milk contains over 200 nutrients not found in formula (8)! Breastfeeding will always be the ideal option to feed your baby.
Breastfeeding has long- and short-term benefits for your baby, you, your mother-baby relationship, and more!
It’s simple—babies do better when they have their own mama’s milk. Although all the reasons aren’t fully understood, studies show breastfeeding protects your baby in the following aspects (6):
Breastfeeding helps more than just your baby! Next, let’s list some ways breastfeeding can impact your health:
Did you know breastfeeding fosters a special attachment between you and your baby? Next, here are some of the ways breastfeeding benefits your relationship with your little one:
Lastly, I know what you’re thinking. “You mean to tell me there are more benefits of breastfeeding?! Pretty sure you had me at ‘it decreases my baby’s chance of getting cancer.'” There really is more!
Although breast milk is ideal, special situations may prevent you from nursing (6). In those cases, there are options! For example, babies can receive expressed milk, milk from a food bank, or formula. If you have any questions or doubts, talk to your caregiver. You can also consult a lactation consultant, your baby’s caregiver, or a childbirth educator (8). How you feed your baby does not reflect on who you are as a loving parent.
Sixty percent of mothers do not breastfeed for as long as they intend (2). According to the CDC, the following factors contribute to this statistic (2):
As you prepare to breastfeed, educate your partner and your family about breastfeeding. Talk with your healthcare provider and a lactation specialist. Make a plan if you’re returning to work.
It takes time, education, and support to adjust to the world of breastfeeding, but you can do it! You (and only you!) will be able to provide the healthiest start possible for your baby through the superpowers of breastfeeding. Go mama!
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Should I breastfeed my baby? How many months should I nurse? Is breast milk that much better than formula? Is it worth it if I go back to work? If
