Brilliant reasons to breastfeed for mums and babies

Breastfeeding is beneficial to you and your baby. Any amount of breast feeding is positive and has long-term health benefits, the longer you are able to breast feed your baby for, the greater the benefits are.

For baby:

Breast milk is tailor made for your baby; your milk adapts to your baby’s needs. Did you know that if your baby is exposed to any germs in the environment, your body will make antibodies that may pass on through your breast milk?

Breast milk contains antibodies, helping to protect your baby from a range of infections including tummy bugs, ear and chest infections. It also contains constituents that helps build your baby’s microbiome, healthy gut.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of:

• Your baby being overweight in childhood and adulthood
• Diabetes, asthma and eczema in later life
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Breastfeeding can also support the bond between your baby and you.

And it’s brilliant for mums

There are lots of benefits to breastfeeding for mums too, including:

It’s free

Breast feeding is free and environmentally friendly. There are no manufacturing or distribution costs and there is no wasteful packaging either.

It’s ready and available whenever your baby needs it

There is no need to worry about taking bottles and formula with you wherever you go.

Breastfeeding is great for bonding

It helps to build a strong physical and emotional bond between mum and baby.

It burns calories

It helps you to lose your pregnancy weight as the fat stores are used to make your milk.

Breastfeeding has health benefits for you

It helps to lower your risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer as well as reducing the risk of developing osteoporosis.

If you experience any breast feeding issues or are struggling to establish feeding, you can talk to your midwife, health visitor or local peer support groups. They can give you useful tips and advice and direct you to your local breastfeeding group where you can meet other breastfeeding mums and build your confidence too.

Useful links

• Health for Under 5s- All about breastfeeding
• Health for Under 5s- Step by step guide to breastfeeding
• Health for Under 5s- Healthy eating tips for breastfeeding mums
• Health for Under 5s- Recognising effective attachment
• NHS Start for Life- Breastfeeding