- Breastmilk is constantly changing in its composition to meet the changing needs of the baby. It has the exact combination of protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and sugars needed for the human infant at various stages of his growth.
- Babies who are breastfed are able to self-regulate their energy intake. Quite often, when babies are bottle fed we expect them to drink the amount that is in the bottle. This is never an issue for breastfed babies; when they have had enough, they stop feeding.
- Babies who are breastfed are usually exposed to different flavours in the breast milk depending on what foods the mother has eaten. Bottle fed babies are constantly exposed to the same flavour and in turn this may affect their acceptance of different flavoured solid foods when they are being introduced.
- The stools of breastfed babies are mild-smelling due to the large number of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria, and the resulting lower pH in the gastrointestinal tract of infants who are solely breast fed.
- There is no doubt that the bond between mother and child is enhanced with breastfeeding.
- Breastmilk contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea and pneumonia, the two primary causes of child mortality worldwide.Breastfed babies also tend to have less incidence of or less pronounced symptoms of ear infections, respiratory illness, allergies, diarrhea, and vomiting.
- SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is less common in breastfed babies and they are at less risk for many other diseases including chrohn's disease, juvenile diabetes, asthma and high cholesterol.
- Constipation or hard stools, not the absence of a daily stool, does not occur in healthy breast fed infants.
- Children who were breastfed are less likely to need orthodontic work such as braces due to the unique sucking action required with breastfeeding. They also seem to have better overall dental health than formula-fed children. Children who were breastfed need speech therapy less often than those who were bottle-fed.
- Adult daughters who were breastfed are at less risk for breast cancer.
Note: If you are concerned about breastfeeding please contact the Breastfeeding helpline on 1800 mum 2 mum or 1800 686 268.