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Exclusive breastfeeding provides lifelong benefits

Edited and resized image by Leandro Cesar Santana, is available on Unsplash

Exclusive breastfeeding (when the baby is fed only on breast milk) is the ideal means of nutrition - at least until six months of age. However, incredible benefits for mother and baby can be seen if the breastfeeding period is extended. Breastfeeding can prevent postpartum depression in the mother, improve the infant's cognitive performance, and prevent illness in both; among other benefits. Check out:

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1. Optimal nutrition

The WHO (World Health Organization) and UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) claim that breastfeeding all babies in the first two years can save the lives of more than 820,000 children under the age of five every year . Continuous breastfeeding is recommended for at least one year as different foods are introduced into the baby's diet.

Breastfeeding provides everything your baby needs for the first six months of life, in all the right proportions. Its composition also changes according to the baby's health needs, especially during the first month of life (see study about it here: 1).

During the first few days after birth, the mother's mammary glands produce a thick, yellowish fluid called colostrum, which is rich in protein, low in sugar and loaded with beneficial compounds (see study on this: 2).

Colostrum is the ideal first food and helps the newborn's immature digestive tract to develop. After the first few days, the breasts start to produce large amounts of milk as the baby's stomach develops.

The only nutrient that is not provided through breastfeeding - unless the mother has ingested exorbitant amounts - is vitamin D (see studies on this here: 3, 4).

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To compensate for this deficiency, a few drops of vitamin D can be recommended from two to four weeks of age (see study about it here: 5).

2. Provides antibodies

Breastfeeding is the main way the baby gets antibodies that help the body fight viruses and bacteria.

This applies particularly to colostrum, the first milk.

Colostrum provides large amounts of immunoglobulin A (IgA), as well as several other antibodies (see study about it here: 6).

When the mother is exposed to viruses or bacteria, she starts to produce antibodies. These antibodies are secreted in breast milk and ingested by the baby through breastfeeding (see study about it here: 7).

IgA protects the baby from getting sick, forming a protective layer in the nose, throat and digestive system (see studies about it here: 8, 9, 10).

For this reason, mothers who breastfeed while they have a cold or the flu provide their babies with antibodies that help them fight the specific pathogen that is causing the illness.

However, if you are sick and breastfeeding, practice strict hygiene. Wash your hands often and try to avoid infecting your baby.

Milk formulas do not provide antibodies for babies. Numerous studies show that those who are not breastfed are more vulnerable to health problems such as pneumonia, diarrhea and infection (11, 12, 13).

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3. Reduces the risk of illness

Exclusive breastfeeding (when the child is fed only on breast milk) is capable of providing incredible health benefits, including:

• Reduce ear infections: Three or more months of exclusive breastfeeding can reduce the risk by 50%, while any breastfeeding can reduce it by 23% (see studies on this: 14, 15).
• Reduce respiratory tract infections: exclusive breastfeeding for more than four months reduces the risk of hospitalization for this type of infection by up to 72% (see studies about it here: 16, 17).
• Reduce colds and infections: babies who were exclusively breastfed for six months may have an up to 63% lower risk of getting the flu, with ear or throat infections (see study on this: 18).
• Reduce intestinal infections: Breastfeeding is associated with a 64% reduction in intestinal infections, seen for up to two months after stopping breastfeeding (see studies on this here: 19, 20, 21).
• Reducing bowel damage: Feeding preterm infants with breast milk is associated with a 60% reduction in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (see related studies here: 22, 23).
• Reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Breastfeeding is also associated with a 50% lower risk of SIDS after ONE month and a 36% reduced risk in the first year (see studies about it here: 24, 23 , 24).
• Reduce allergic diseases: Exclusive breastfeeding for at least three to four months is associated with a 27 to 42 percent reduced risk of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and eczema (see studies about it here: 25, 26).
• Reduce celiac disease: babies who are breastfed at the time of their first exposure to gluten have a 52% lower risk of developing celiac disease (see study about this: 27).
• Reduce inflammatory bowel disease: breastfeeding can reduce the development of inflammatory bowel disease in childhood by 30% (see studies about it here: 28, 29).
• Reduce diabetes: breastfeeding for at least three months is associated with a lower risk of type 1 diabetes by up to 30% and type 2 diabetes by up to 40% (see studies about it here: 30, 31, 32).
• Reduce childhood leukemia: breastfeeding for six months or more is associated with a 15-20% reduction in the risk of childhood leukemia (see related studies here: 33, 34, 35, 36).

4. Promotes healthy weight

Breastfeeding helps prevent childhood obesity. Studies show that obesity rates are 15-30% lower in babies who were exclusively breastfed, compared to formula-fed babies (see studies on this: 37, 38, 39, 40).

This may be due to the development of beneficial bacteria in the intestine, called probiotics, which influence the way the body stores fat (see study about it here: 37).

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Breast-fed babies also have more leptin (a hormone responsible for regulating appetite and fat storage) than formula-fed babies (see studies on this here: 38, 39).

Breastfeeding also promotes greater self-regulation of the baby's milk intake. He feels more satisfied and, throughout his life, develops healthier eating patterns (see study about it here: 40).

5. Makes children smarter

Some studies suggest that there may be a difference in brain development between babies who were exclusively breastfed and those who were formula-fed (see studies on this here: 41).

This difference may be due to the physical intimacy, touch, and eye contact associated with breastfeeding.

Studies indicate that breastfed babies are smarter and less likely to develop behavior and learning problems as they age (see studies on this here: 42, 43, 44).

However, the most significant effects are seen in premature babies, who are at greater risk for developmental problems.

Breastfeeding has significant positive effects on long-term brain development (see studies on this here: 45, 46, 47, 48).

6. Prevents the mother from developing obesity

While some women seem to gain weight while breastfeeding, others seem to lose weight easily.

Although breastfeeding increases the mother's energy demands by about 500 calories a day, the body's hormonal balance is very different from normal (see studies on this here: 49, 50, 51).

Due to these hormonal changes, women who breastfeed have an increased appetite and may be more likely to store fat for milk production (see studies about it here: 52, 53, 54).

In the first three months after childbirth, women who breastfeed may lose less weight than those who do not breastfeed, and may even gain weight (see study about it here: 55).

However, after three months of lactation, they experience an increase in fat burning (see studies about it here: 56, 57, 58).

Between three and six months after childbirth, women who breastfeed lose more weight than those who do not breastfeed (see studies about it here: 59, 60, 61, 62, 63).

However, diet and exercise are the determining factors for postpartum weight loss (see studies about it here: 59, 60).

7. Reduces postpartum blood loss

Some studies have shown that women who breastfeed generally have less blood loss after childbirth (see studies about it here: 63, 64).

8. Decreases the risk of depression

Postpartum depression is a type of depression that affects up to 15% of mothers (see study about it here: 65).

However, women who breastfeed are less likely to develop postpartum depression compared to mothers who wean early or do not breastfeed (see studies on this here: 66, 67). Those with postpartum depression are more likely to have breastfeeding problems and do so for a shorter period (see studies on this here: 68, 69).

These factors may be related due to the fact that breastfeeding causes hormonal changes that encourage care and maternal bonding (see study about it here: 70).

One of the most significant changes is the increase in the amount of oxytocin (the "love hormone") produced during childbirth and breastfeeding (see study about it here: 71).

Oxytocin appears to have long-term anti-anxiety effects, stimulates feelings of affection and relaxation (see studies on this: 72, 73).

These effects may also explain, in part, why mothers who breastfeed have a lower rate of maternal rejection compared to those who do not breastfeed.

One study showed that the rate of maternal child abuse and neglect was nearly three times higher for non-breastfed mothers compared to non-breastfed mothers.

But this does not necessarily mean that not breastfeeding will always increase maternal neglect.

9. Reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer

The total time a woman spends breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer (see studies on this here: 74, 75, 76).

Women who breastfeed for more than 12 months during their lifetime have a 28% lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Each year of breastfeeding is associated with a 4.3% reduction in the risk of breast cancer (see studies about it here: 77, 78).

Breastfeeding can also protect against metabolic syndrome, a group of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems (see studies on this here: 75, 76, 77, 76).

Women who breastfeed for one or two years throughout their lives have a 10-50% lower risk of high blood pressure, arthritis, high blood fat levels, heart disease and type 2 diabetes (see study on this: 77).

10. Delays menstruation

Continued breastfeeding stops ovulation and menstruation. Some women also use breastfeeding as a form of birth control in the first few months after giving birth (see studies on this here: 78, 79).

However, it may not be a completely effective contraceptive method. On the other hand, it has the benefit of preventing colic and PMS.

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11. Saves money

To complete the list, breastfeeding is completely free.

When choosing to breastfeed, you will not need to:

• Spend money on formulas;
• Calculate how much your baby needs to drink daily;
• Spend time cleaning and sterilizing bottles;
• Heat bottle in the middle of the night or day;

On the other hand, we know that these tasks could be delegated to the parent or the other person responsible for the baby, while you would take time to yourself.

Furthermore, it is noteworthy that women who cannot breastfeed should feed their baby formula as it will provide all the nutrients he needs.