Advantage Of Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding protects your baby from infections and diseases.
- Breastfeeding provides health benefits for mother.
- It’s free.
- It’s available whenever and wherever your baby needs a feed.
- It’s the right temperature.
- It can build a strong physical and emotional bond between mother and baby.
- It can give you a great sense of achievement.
Health benefits of breastfeeding for your baby:
- Less chance of diarrhoea and vomiting.
- Fewer chest and ear infections and fewer visits to hospital.
- Less chance of being constipated.
- Less likelihood of becoming obese and therefore developing type 2 diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses later in life.
Any amount of breastfeeding has a positive effect. The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits.
Health benefits of breastfeeding for mother:
Breastfeeding doesn’t only benefit your baby. It benefits your health too. Breastfeeding is good for mother as it:
- Lowers your risk of getting breast and ovarian cancer.
- Naturally uses up to 500 calories a day.
- Saves money – infant formula, the sterilising equipment and feeding equipment can be costly.
- Can help to build a strong bond between you and your baby.
Exclusive breastfeeding can also delay the return of your periods.
Proper positioning techniques for breastfeeding
The mother must:
- Hold the baby so that he/she is facing the nipple.
- Keep your fingers away from the area to be drawn into the baby’s mouth, allowing the baby to draw in the entire nipple and as much of the areola as possible.
- Press your fingers slightly towards your ribs to keep the nipple extended as much as possible.
- Guide and insert the areola by centering the nipple in the baby’s mouth and pointing it toward the top back section of the baby’s mouth.
- Hold the baby in close to your body.
The baby must:
- Face the mother’s body.
- Open his/her mouth wide (like a big yawn.)
- Draw the nipple in to the upper back part of his mouth.
- Place his gums beyond the nipple, taking in as much of the areola as possible.
- Have his tongue out, over his lower gum, “cradling” the nipple and areola.