Advantages Of Breastfeeding For Mother

Why breastfeed?

Yes, fortunately baby is not the only one that benefits from breastfeeding! There are many advantages of breastfeeding for mother too.

Here are the benefits of breastfeeding for mom

- A lower risk of breast cancer. The longer a mom breastfeeds during her lifetime, the lower the risk of her getting breast cancer. So if you can breastfeed for longer than two years, why not!

- A lowered risk of uterine and ovarian cancer. During breastfeeding your body is given the much needed brake it needs, and your body produces less estrogen therefore there will be less stimulation on your breasts and uterus.

- Lower risk of osteoporosis. Breastfeeding moms are four times less likely to develop osteoporosis later in life and also have been found to have less hip fractures in their post menopausal years.

- The uterus returns to it's normal size quicker. The hormone oxytocin is released during breastfeeding which prevents hemorrhage and promotes uterine contractions.

- Natural child spacing. Breastfeeding delays ovulation, which keeps your period away and therefore helps you space out your kids as far as you want to. Read more on lactational amenorrhea here.

- Lower risk of iron deficiency. Because mom is not menstruating during breastfeeding, she will be losing less iron, which prevents anemia.

- Prevent postpartum depression. Breastfeeding has been found to lower the level of depression felt after pregnancy. Read more on PPD and breastfeeding.

- Faster postpartum weight loss. Breastfeeding moms find it easier to lose the extra pounds after birth than non-breastfeeding moms. Milk production is a metabolic process that requires between 200 and 500 calories per day. A non-breastfeeding mom would have to do an hour of spinning everyday to burn that many calories.

- Breastfeeding saves money. You won’t need to buy the expensive formula and bottles. Breast milk is free!

- Breastfeeding is convenient. No bottles to wash or warm or mixing of formula. Your breast is always ready and the breast milk is always at just the right temperature!

- A special bond. Breastfeeding moms have advantage of the hormone oxytocin, which is released while breastfeeding. Oxytocin is also know as the "love hormone", which promotes bonding between mom and baby.

- Mom is calmer. The hormone Prolactin that is released during breastfeeding has been found to calm moms.

- Mom is forced to sit down/lie down and rest. You can't run around while breastfeeding, this is a good thing…as it helps mom relax.

Interesting fact on advantages of breastfeeding for the mother

In a study, mothers who breastfed on only one breast where found to have higher rates of cancer in the breast that was not breastfed from.

The advantages of breastfeeding for mothers are overlooked many times, its clear that breastfeeding is not only beneficial for the baby’s well-being but is just as important (if not more) to the mother.

Other pages on “breastfeeding problems” in connection with “advantages of breastfeeding for mother”

- Breastfeeding benefits for mom and baby

- The importance of colostrum

Have any thing you would like to add on the benefits of breastfeeding for mother?

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