Good morning, this is your Wellness Wake Up Call with Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator with University of Illinois Extension.
August is National Breastfeeding Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the incredible benefits of breastfeeding for both babies and mothers. Breastfeeding is more than just a way to feed infants—it’s a foundation for a healthy start in life. Let’s explore the many advantages of breastfeeding and why it’s worth celebrating.
What Makes Breastfeeding Special? Breastfeeding is the most natural and complete form of nutrition for newborns. From the moment a baby is born, breast milk provides all the essential nutrients needed for growth and development. It contains the perfect balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals that are tailored to a baby’s needs. Moreover, breast milk adapts over time to meet a baby’s changing needs, making it a dynamic and responsive source of nourishment.
Health Benefits for Babies One of the greatest benefits of breastfeeding is its role in protecting babies from illnesses. Breast milk contains antibodies and other immune-boosting factors that help infants fight off infections and diseases. Studies show that breastfed babies have a lower risk of respiratory infections, ear infections, and gastrointestinal illnesses. Additionally, breastfeeding reduces the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), providing extra peace of mind for new parents.
Long-term health benefits are also significant. Research indicates that breastfeeding lowers the risk of chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, and asthma. Babies who are breastfed are also less likely to develop certain types of childhood cancer, such as leukemia and lymphomas. By giving babies the best start, breastfeeding sets the stage for a healthier future.
Emotional and Cognitive Benefits Breastfeeding isn’t just about physical health—it also supports emotional and cognitive development. The close physical contact during breastfeeding fosters a strong bond between mother and baby. This bond is crucial for the baby’s emotional well-being and helps them feel secure and loved.
Breastfeeding has also been linked to better cognitive development. Studies suggest that breastfed children often have higher IQ scores and improved academic performance as they grow older. The nutrients in breast milk, along with the nurturing experience of breastfeeding, contribute to a baby’s brain development and learning abilities.
Benefits for Mothers The advantages of breastfeeding extend to mothers as well. One of the key benefits is that breastfeeding helps mothers recover from childbirth. It stimulates the release of hormones that help the uterus return to its pre-pregnancy size and can reduce postpartum bleeding.
Breastfeeding also lowers the risk of certain health conditions for mothers. Women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers. Additionally, breastfeeding can help with weight loss after pregnancy and may even protect against type 2 diabetes.
New research from UCLA Health suggests that breastfeeding could improve a women’s cognitive performance post-menopause and have long-term benefits for the brain. Results from the cognitive tests revealed that those who had breastfed performed better in all four of the cognitive tests measuring for learning, delayed recall, executive functioning and processing compared to women who had not breastfed. The longer the duration of breastfeeding, resulted in higher test scores. The research team noted that this is one of the few studies that look at the long-term health effects for women and that larger and more geographically diverse groups are needed for future studies.
Economic Advantages Beyond personal health benefits, breastfeeding has economic and environmental impacts. Breastfeeding is cost-effective, as it eliminates the need for formula and feeding supplies. This can save families hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Support and Encouragement To fully experience these benefits, it’s important that mothers receive support from their families, healthcare providers, and communities. This week, take the opportunity to promote breastfeeding-friendly environments, provide accurate information, and celebrate the amazing mothers in your life who choose to breastfeed.
For additional resources and a recording of today’s episode, please visit wvik.org/wellness. Or you can subscribe to Wellness Wake Up Call today wherever you listen to podcasts and never miss out on these weekly wellness tips.
Thank you for listening! I hope you have a happy and healthy day ahead. This has been Kristin Bogdonas, nutrition and wellness educator, with University of Illinois Extension.
Resources and References
·
Feeding My Baby: From cradle to table
- University of Illinois Extension Website
- World Health Organization. (2022). "Breastfeeding."
- Unicef. (2023). "Breastfeeding and its Benefits."
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2023). "Policy Statement on Breastfeeding."
- Molly Fox, Prabha Siddarth, Hanadi Ajam Oughli, Sarah A Nguyen, Michaela M Milillo, Yesenia Aguilar, Linda Ercoli, Helen Lavretsky, Women who breastfeed exhibit cognitive benefits after age 50,, Medicine, and Public Health, Volume 9, Issue 1, 2021, Pages 322–331,://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoab027
