Benefits of Human Milk
Breastfeeding - Chestfeeding - Bodyfeeding
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated their recommendations to reflect the idea that breastfeeding beyond the first year should be the norm. At the very least, it shouldn’t be chastised if parents are continuing to feed into the toddler years.
This isn’t a new concept. The World Health Organization has been recommending biologically normal feeding for a long time, and before they were setting standards, mom-baby dyads have been figuriging it out for millenia. Here is the basic breakdown :
- 0-6 months: only human milk
- 6-12 months: continue with milk as the primary source of nutrition while introducing complementary foods
- 12-24 months: keep on keeping on, toddlers feed much less frequently than younger babies, they are busy exploring the world
- beyond the 2nd birthday: biological weaning usually happens sometime in the near future (read next few years) if you let children wean themselves
- the reality is that every family will decide what works best for them
If you’re still with me after talking about toddlers with teeth on your boob, good on ya! You do you; whether you chestfeed for hours, days, months or years, way to feed your baby.
Breastfeeding/chestfeeding looks different in every family. There is no one right way to do it. It could look like:
- Straight from the Source
- Exclusively Pumped Milk in Bottles
- Using Syringes, Cups or Spoons (typically when baby is learning or having challenges)
- Combo Body + Bottle
- Using Donor Milk
- Human Milk + Formula
- Going with the Flow (taking it one feed at a time)
Perfect Nutrition
Human milk is a living fluid that is constantly changing to meet the needs of your baby.
Human milk contains:
- water (mostly)
- more than 1,000 proteins
- more than 20 amino acids
- carbohydrates
- 5 types of antibodies
- oligosaccharides (prebiotics)
- vitamins
- minerals
- live cells
- stem cells
- over 40 enzymes
- more than 200 complex sugars
- other immune cells
- hormones
- growth factors
- gene regulators
- + flavors of the food you eat just to mix it up a bit
Benefits for Babies
- decreases respiratory and ear infections
- less diarrhea, gut infection & bowel disease
- lowers risk of asthma, atopic dermatitis & eczema
- protects against SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
- less risk of developing Type 1 diabetes & obesity
- boosts brain development
- comforting & warm
Bonus Benefits
- Your milk is always the right temperature straight from your body.
- Travels well for meals on the go.
- Don’t have to prepare anything or wash up after. That includes your breasts!
- Human milk contains flavors from your diet so your baby’s palette is exposed to a variety of flavor profiles.
- It is more than just food – you & baby both release feel good chemicals when feeding.
- Your evening milk contains melatonin – mother nature has you covered because your baby doesn’t produce their own for a while.
Benefits for Adults
- assists with postpartum recovery
- decreases risk of osteoporosis & arthritis
- decreases breast & ovarian cancer risk
- decreases risk of Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure & heart disease
- comforting & connecting