A lady breastfeeding a child. [Photo/time.com]
Breast feeding benefits both the baby and the mother, for the babies the milk contains bacterial and virus fighting cells that helps the baby develop a strong immune system for example it shields the baby from asthma, allergies and respiratory related infections.
It also helps to boost the IQ of the babies and body weight in babies as they grow older.
It helps the mothers lose weight that gained during the pregnancy period, thus lowering the risk of a heart attract for the mother and stroke.
During pregnancy a lot of fat accumulate in the mother’s body in order to support the developing baby and ensure that the baby has enough nutrients to support the development, thus it advisable for the mothers to breastfeed, the longer time the mother breastfeed the more benefits for the baby and the mother.
Gaining less weight during the pregnancy period is associated with a higher likelihood of having a baby that’s smaller than normal and having a preterm birth.
It also helps to prevent and reduce the risk of breast, ovarian, cervical and endometrial cancers.