Benefits of Breastfeeding

The experience of breastfeeding will bond you and your baby, providing many health benefits, as well. Just after birth, your breast milk will appear thick and yellow, containing nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby. After 3-5 days, your breast milk will change texture and color, becoming thinner and appearing almost clear in appearance. Your breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein to help your baby continue to grow, providing all of the nutrients and antibodies that your baby needs.

Breast milk is easy for your baby to digest and will help your baby to fight disease. Some research has shown that breast fed babies have a reduced risk of Type 1 diabetes, childhood leukemia, certain types of skin rashes,  & SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

Written by Shelley Scheibel, RN, BSN

References:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/why-breastfeeding-is-important/index.html



“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Isaiah 49:15