Breastfeeding Benefits for Mothers
Breastfeeding is good for babies but it’s great for moms too. Here are some additional reasons to motivate you:
1. Helps shrink uterus after birth
The baby’s suckling will help the uterus to shrink more quickly to its pre-pregnancy size.
2. Helps nursing moms lose weight after giving birth
Breastfeeding burns about 500 extra calories a day and by maintaining a balances diet they can lose weight quicker than those formula feeding their children.
3. Helps with natural child spacing
It is definitely possible to get pregnant while breastfeeding but most women don’t ovulate for at least the first six months after they give birth. This is dependent on exclusive breastfeeding (with no supplements or solid food) and for those whose menstrual cycles has not yet resumed. Night nursing further delays the return of a woman’s period but to ensure you don’t get pregnant again always use a back up method of birth control. Generally speaking breastfeeding helps with optimal child spacing.
4. Helps calm moms down
Breastfeeding your child can help you to relax and even fall asleep yourself. Pumping has the same effect and if you have to do it at work then this can be a great way to reduce your stress level. The hormone, Oxytocin, helps moms to relax and is released as you nurse your baby.
5. Protects mother from anemia
Anemia is an iron deficiency that caused exhaustion and temporary memory loss as well as a weakened immune system. Mothers that exclusively breastfeed their babies normally delay the start of their menstrual cycle for the first 12 months or longer which reduces the chances of their iron stores being depleted through monthly bleeding.
6. Less sick days for parents
Parents of breastfed children have to take less sick leave as statistically their children are healthier compared to formula-fed children.
>References: http://boobiefed.com/reasons-why-breastfeeding-is-best
