Did you know that breast milk changes depending on what your baby needs? Your little one can taste the subtle flavor of what you ate for the day as they flow through your breast milk!
This is only one of the many fascinating facts about breast milk that make you realize that it is more than just milk but a magic blend for your baby. Going through these five more facts may encourage you to try breastfeeding if you are still thinking about it. We’ll also give you some tips to make your breastfeeding journey a blissful one if you’ve decided this is the way to go.
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Breast milk is ready anytime, anywhere!
Most babies feed 8–12 times per day. If your baby is crying and hungry, you can skip the hassle of mixing milk in baby bottles and feed breast milk right away. If they feed in the middle of the night, you can continue your sweet dreams while your baby enjoys a comfortable sleep, too.
Because of that, you save a lot of time mixing milk in tiny bottles and warming them up as breast milk is already warm and fresh, just how the baby wants it. Piles of unwashed bottles will not take space in your kitchen sink, too. Just eat nutritious food and keep yourself hydrated, so the milk will continuously flow and your baby can have all the milk at no extra cost for you!
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Liquid packed with nutrition.
If adults rely on superfoods to get the nutrition they need, so do babies. Even newborns will get all the nutrients they need—just with breast milk. They’ll get just the right amount of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, and different antibodies and antioxidants through it. Water for newborns is also a big no-no as breastmilk is already 90% water, ensuring your little one is hydrated.
Among all the nutrients, what’s unique to breast milk is a fluid called colostrum, which boosts your baby’s immune system. It provides a protective layer to your little one’s nose and throat, keeping them away from respiratory diseases common to babies. It also prevents diarrhea and other digestive infections because of its digestive tract protection ability. Whatever nutritious food you take in will also be the same nutrition passed on to your little one, so as you keep yourself healthy, you do the same for your baby.
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Helps fight diseases and infections.
With all the nutrients from breast milk, all we can expect is a happy and healthy baby! Here are all the illnesses and infections you can ward off just by feeding your baby breast milk:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Digestive infections
- Cough and colds
- Pneumonia
- Different respiratory diseases
- Leukemia
- Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Food allergies
- Obesity
- Asthma
- Type 1 diabetes
- Acute otitis media/ear infection
The list goes on, and the best part is, even in adulthood, your little one can reap long-term benefits. Breastfed children have lower risk of acquiring and suffering the following health conditions when they grow up:
- Lupus
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Obesity
- Heart diseases
- Tooth problems
- Juvenile diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Asthma
- Breast cancer
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn’s disease
These overwhelming physical benefits are at par with their mental gains, providing your little one a higher IQ, as studies have found. This means you make your baby smarter because of breast milk and the bonding you have as they suckle.
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Assists in mother’s recovery.
All the mentioned goodness will be enjoyed by your little one and you as well. Through breastfeeding, you enjoy all the following advantages:
- As you breastfeed, the uterus contracts more, making it easier to go back to its original size before birth.
- Breastfeeding also lowers the risk of severe bleeding after pregnancy.
- It is known that some mothers suffer postpartum depression, but you can keep this from happening with breastfeeding.
- One of the main changes you go through with pregnancy is weight gain, which you can address through breastfeeding. You can shed some weight easier when you breastfeed.
- Breastfeeding also brings long-term benefits like lowering the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.
When you are healthy, you can better care for your baby, and just by breastfeeding, you can keep your health at an optimum level.
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A perfect time for mother and baby bonding.
The bond between mother and child begins at conception and is strengthened after birth through breastfeeding. The eye contact and skin-to-skin interaction satisfy the need for touch and closeness of your highly dependent little one. In terms of speech and language development, you are their first teacher.
As you sing nursery rhymes or have conversations as your baby feeds, all the words and emotions that come with it are transmitted to your baby’s developing brain. Try making it a routine to sing a particular song to your baby during feeding time, and watch them acquire it and sing it themselves!
Your little one can also derive assurance, joy, and confidence through your voice as you speak to them while suckling milk. Even your daily routine is tied with the baby’s feeding time. Like an invisible string, you need to be with your baby as long as they are breastfeeding.
Baby Breastfeeding Pillow And Tips For Comfortable Feeding
Thinking of trying breastfeeding? With all the conveniences and benefits mentioned above, it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try. To make the journey comfortable for you and your baby, here are some tips you can do.
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Find a comfortable position.
First-time moms will find it challenging to find a comfortable position because of their fear of hurting the baby, but practice makes perfect. The classic baby cradling position with a baby breastfeeding support pillow as support can be a good start. You can also try a lying position, so you can feed your little one even when it’s already bedtime for you both.
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Your baby should also be comfortable.
Be on the lookout for the best adjustable breastfeeding baby pillow. No matter what breastfeeding position you choose, this pillow can help keep you and your baby comfortable. When feeding in a lying position, add a baby head pillow to slightly elevate your baby’s head and assure feeding comfort.
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Utilize breastfeeding assistance products.
Aside from a baby first breastfeeding pillow, plenty of products are available to make breastfeeding easier. You can use a breastfeeding bra and clothes you can unstrap quickly during feeding time. This way, you can feed comfortably even in public by using a breastfeeding cloth to cover you and your little one.
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Stay hydrated and eat lactation-friendly food.
Finally, breastfeeding will keep you hungry and thirsty, so make sure to fill the pantry with healthy goodies for you and the baby. Eat food-inducing lactation and stay hydrated. Keep snacks and drinks near you if you are hungry and avoid unnecessary movements that will wake your baby.
Breastfeeding Products From Ashtonbee
Breastfeeding is a natural way to feed your baby. It’s free, always available, and you can do so on the go. In addition, breast milk provides many benefits for mom and baby alike. Looking back at the benefits of breastfeeding, we hope that we have helped you gain information to decide if this is the right choice for you and your little one.
If you are breastfeeding, let Ashtonbee help you! Let you and your baby achieve comfort, beginning with a baby lounger pillow, a newborn baby pillow, and more products as your baby grows. Check out our collection of baby must-haves on our website. We know you’ll love them!
