The Best Nourishment You Can Give Baby
Health care experts agree that breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby during the first year. Breast milk is nature's perfect food for babies. It is easily digested and contains all the nutrients, including iron, that full-term babies need in the first 6 months of life. Breast milk also helps protect babies against illnesses and food allergies as they get older. It contains living cells that not only make protective antibodies but can also destroy disease causing bacteria and viruses in infants. Studies have shown that babies who nurse have less colic and diarrhea, and fewer colds and ear infections. Even a short period of breastfeeding will help your baby.
Breast milk contains the perfect amount and type of fat for your baby's nutrition and development, and plays an important role in the development of your baby's eyes, brain and central nervous system. The fat content of breast milk actually changes throughout the day in response to baby's needs. It also changes as your baby gets older. At night, your breast milk contains more fat than earlier in the day, which may help your baby sleep for longer periods at night.
Your healthy lifestyle while breastfeeding:
- Eat a well balanced diet. Your doctor may prescribe vitamins.
- Smoking interferes with the let-down of your milk, so it's a good idea to quit or cut down.
- Limit your caffeine intake to three servings per day.
- Before using any drugs or medications, consult your baby's doctor or a lactation consultant.
- Rest or nap whenever you can.
- Breastfeeding tends to delay the return of menstruation but it won't protect you from getting pregnant.
Breastfeeding is good for mothers, too
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It gives you the perfect opportunity to cuddle your baby, sending baby a wonderful message of your love.
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At the same time, it makes feeding easier than preparing formula and dealing with bottles.
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In addition, it helps you get in shape.
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Nursing helps your uterus return to its normal size. When you nurse, your body makes hormones that cause the muscles of your uterus to contract, making the uterus smaller and firmer.
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Breastfeeding helps you lose weight naturally. Your body uses the extra body fat gained during your pregnancy as a caloric reserve to be used up while nursing.
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Breastfeeding may burn as many as 400 calories a day.
