TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- Breastfeeding, a natural antidepressant
- Breastfeeding relaxes and boosts self-confidence
- Exclusive breastfeeding works as a contraceptive
- To sleep better and fall back asleep, breastfeeding is key
- For health as well, breastfeeding is good for mom
- Nursed or pumped milk = calories burned
- Breast milk saves money
- Breastfeeding your baby, lifelong benefits!
It is well-known that breast milk is undoubtedly the best food to nourish a baby during the first months of life. What is less known is that breastfeeding also offers many benefits for mothers. Calmness, sleep, calories burned, and a stronger mother-child bond—all positive points for those who want to breastfeed from the very first feeding.
Breastfeeding, a natural antidepressant
Breastfeeding makes you feel good. Despite the pain, despite the discomfort, and despite the difficulties that can sometimes occur in the beginning.
Thus, breastfeeding could reduce the risk of postnatal depression for the new mother. During pregnancy, the intention to breastfeed and successfully following through with this plan would reduce the risk of depression by 42% in the two months following the child's birth.
In France, about 10 to 20% of mothers every year are affected by postpartum depression. Hormones, life changes, lack of balance, fatigue or even exhaustion, and isolation may be causes. Upstream, breastfeeding, along with appropriate support, could contribute to the emotional well-being of every new mother.
Breastfeeding relaxes and boosts self-confidence
Nursing your child at the breast and feeding them with your own milk is an incomparable experience. Indeed, what miracle is more incredible than breastfeeding?
All mothers know the joy of watching their child eat, enjoying a satisfying meal, no matter their age. It’s easy to imagine this pleasure multiplied when looking at your newborn, snuggled up against your breast.
From a physiological point of view, oxytocin and endorphins secreted during breastfeeding bring calm and relaxation to the mother. This allows you to be fully present in the moment and boosts your self-satisfaction meter.
Exclusive breastfeeding works as a contraceptive
When you breastfeed, your body naturally produces prolactin, a hormone stimulated by sucking that promotes breast milk production. But that's not its only role.
Prolactin prevents, or at least limits, ovulation. It delays the return of your period (the famously unwelcome return of menstruation) and therefore reduces the risk of a new pregnancy. However, according to the WHO, the contraceptive effect of prolactin through breastfeeding requires certain precautions.
Breastfeeding must be exclusive and feedings must be regular, at least every 6 hours at night and every 4 hours during the day, with at least 6 long nursing sessions or 10 short ones per day to ensure sufficient hormonal stimulation. Also, the mother must not have had her period return yet.
This method is called LAM : Lactational Amenorrhea Method. Validated in 1988 by the Bellagio Consensus, then confirmed in 1995 by new European studies, the Consensus states that "exclusive breastfeeding can prevent over 98% of pregnancies during the first six months." This period of amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) can therefore be considered a naturally infertile period.
Breastfeeding from the very first day also reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage by promoting placental expulsion and uterine contraction.
To sleep better and fall back asleep, breastfeeding is key
Again, it’s all about the wellness and relaxation hormones. The oxytocin released during breastfeeding also influences the quality of your nights and your baby's by promoting relaxation and thus, a quicker fall into sleep. Not a minor advantage when two, three, or even four feedings break up your night, and this, for several months.
In addition, breastfeeding allows you to feed your baby while staying in bed without giving up either their warmth or your comfort. This combo is even better if your partner volunteers to get the baby from the crib.
For health as well, breastfeeding is good for mom
Each additional month of breastfeeding brings more positive effects for mothers' health.
Breastfeeding has antidepressant effects thanks to the hormones released in the body, such as oxytocin, which is present at very high levels.
Also thanks to these hormones, the risks of developing diabetes are reduced for breastfeeding mothers throughout their lives.
Similarly, breastfeeding could offer certain protection against cardiac disorders and cardiovascular disease. This is partly thanks to lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and a decreased risk of diabetes.
Long-term breastfeeding, meaning at least 6 months, could have a positive impact on the reduction of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancers in women. Several studies suggest that the longer the breastfeeding period—whether for one child or multiple children—the greater the protective effect.
Finally, oxytocin again promotes bone remineralization after pregnancy and childbirth, and helps prevent osteoporosis at menopause.
Nursed or pumped milk = calories burned
It’s not a myth: breastfeeding your baby can help you burn up to 500 calories per day, about the same as an hour of cycling. Not bad, right? Of course, you’ll need to add a pinch of patience, adjust your postpartum diet and maybe go for long walks with your baby, but there’s no doubt about it, breastfeeding helps you get your pre-pregnancy body back.
Breast milk saves money
Breastfeeding your child lets you save hundreds of euros on formula in just the first year.
No formula needed if you exclusively breastfeed, and even less if you do combination feeding. You won’t need to buy bottles either. Still, if you fall in love with the bibROND and its round little body, know that it is the recommended breastfeeding bottle for sharing your breastfeeding experience or for starting your child’s weaning process gently.
Breastfeeding your baby, lifelong benefits!
Among all the others, this is the good news to remember if you breastfeed or are planning to. The benefits of breastfeeding never stop and continue throughout your life!
Less stress, better sleep, lower risk of heart disease and cancer, and even advantages during menopause, breastfeeding has it all.
While breastfeeding is the most natural and instinctive way to nourish your child, it’s important to remember that whether or not to breastfeed your baby is a personal choice that should never be debated, but should be based on individual conviction.
