The benefits of breastfeeding

What are the benefits of breastfeeding to a baby, how do you determine if your baby is having enough milk during feeding and are there any benefits to mum?

With August highlighting the importance of breastfeeding and mothers often wondering if they should breastfeed, ER24 spoke to Pei Ching Chuah, from World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA).

WABA initiated World Breastfeeding Week 23 years ago, and it is now celebrated from August 1 to 7 in over 176 countries.

Chuah, the Programme Coordinator for Health and Information, said breastfeeding has a number of benefits to a mother and baby.

“Breast milk is so much more than a food. It is a live tissue with many immune factors that give a baby continuous, active protection against infections when the baby’s body cannot yet protect itself. For the first few days after birth, a mother provides the ideal immunisation for her baby with colostrum, milky fluid, which is rich in antibodies.

“The amount of colostrum is small, but it is exactly what a baby needs at this time. Breastfed children are much healthier. Breast milk contains just the right amount of energy, protein, vitamins, water and other nutrients for a baby for the first six months of life. When they are older, breastfed babies are less likely to be overweight,” she said.

Chuah added that breastfed newborn babies have fewer digestive problems, are rarely sick or hospitalised, less likely to suffer from wheezing and bronchitis.

Breastfed babies are also less likely to develop ear infections and suffer from allergies.

“Breastfeeding aids a baby’s intellectual development. In addition to the health benefits of breastfeeding, the emotional benefits of nursing include comfort and security. As long as mothers breastfeed, their breast milk will continue to provide their child with antibodies and other protective substances that make illnesses less acute and easier to handle,” said Chuah.

So how do you know if your baby is having enough breast milk? Chuah explained as follows:

1. On day one and two, the mother’s breasts produce only a small amount of colostrum so her breasts might feel soft (not very full). The baby has one or two wet diapers and passes meconium (greenish-black, tarry first stool).