Breastfeeding: A win, win for new moms and babies

Breast milk is nature's perfect baby food. It's easy to digest, enhances newborns' ability to fight off infections and contains exactly the right balance of nutrients during the most critical developmental phase of their lives. It's no wonder then that experts encourage new moms to breastfeed — and that moms are following doctors' orders. The latest data shows that 74 percent of women breastfeed during the early postpartum period compared to 68 percent in 1999.

Now that's sibling rivalry

Tests conducted on siblings, some of which were breastfed and some who were not, confirmed that in addition to increased immunity and health benefits, the breastfed child had a slight edge in brainpower.

Researchers evaluated   data on 2,734 sibling pairs and found that kids who were breastfed at any point had higher IQs (by 3 points) than their formula-fed sibling, and these advantages persisted into adolescence.

Previous studies

However, the authors suggest that other long-term benefits of breastfeeding, such as reduced risk of becoming obese or developing heart disease, have been overstated.

Any perceived benefits, they claim, are likely to be products of the breastfeeding mothers' lifestyle, behaviour and child-rearing practices, and not necessarily the result of mom's milk.

Benefits for baby's health

As for short-term effects, hundreds of studies show that nursing helps prevent diarrhea, respiratory tract infections, ear infections, urinary tract infections and other conditions, but only while the child is being breastfed.

You also  benefit from nursing your baby.

Breastfeeding

• Increases bonding between you and your child
• Prevents postpartum depression
• Breastfeeding releases hormones and burns requires more calories than when you are pregnant. such as that promote relaxation and help moms feel more nurturing.
• Increases levels of oxytocin and prolactin promotes relaxation which increases your desire to nurture
• Pauses your mental cycle and decreases your chances of getting pregnant while nursing
• Requires 2000 more calories than pregnancy alone, which increase postpartum weightless
• Causes drops in estrogen levels which decreases osteoporosis, hormone related cancer and diabetes.

Research shows that women who breastfeed are less likely to develop breast cancer than their non-nursing counterparts. The statistic reveals similar numbers when it comes to ovarian cancer.

In a study of 149,693 women, Harvard researchers found that women who nursed for 18 months or longer had an almost 40 percent reduction in risk of ovarian cancer compared to women who never breastfed.

Other studies show that women who breastfeed for more than six months are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. The longer women nurse, the lower their risk. Of course, it doesn't hurt that breastfeeding burns about 500 calories a day. That too has long-lasting results on health and well-being. But perhaps the greatest benefit to breastfeeding moms is extra sleep.

Research shows that parents of infants who nurse at night get about 45 more minutes of precious shut-eye than parents who give their little ones formula. And to a new mom, that might be the greatest benefit of all!