Breast milk, one of Mother Nature’s most wonderful creations, is the sole source of nutrition for the first six months of your child’s life.
Breastfeeding provides babies with the best start in life and is a key contributor to infant health. Evidence shows that breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from gastroenteritis, respiratory illness and middle ear infection.
It is important that, in preparation for and during breast feeding, you eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast and bottle feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of your own breast milk, and reversing the decision not to breast feed is difficult. If your personal circumstances allow it, breastfeeding will provide your little one with the best start to life nutritionally and will also bring other important benefits to mum and baby.
Indeed, breastfeeding will meet all of your baby’s nutritional needs for around the first six months of life. In Australia, The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) recommends that infants are breastfed exclusively for around the first six months of life to achieve optimal health, growth and development, but adds that any amount of breastmilk is beneficial to a mother and her baby. The NHMRC also says that when solid foods are introduced gradually at around six months of age, breastfeeding should continue until 12 months and beyond and for as long as the mother and baby pair desire. As there is so much information to wade through when a new baby joins the family, we thought we would take the time to explain a little bit about breastfeeding.
Benefits of breast milk
Breastmilk meets all your baby’s nutritional requirements from birth to around six months. It is specially made for your baby and there are lots of things in breast milk that are good for your baby. As well as being a source of nourishment, it contains numerous immune properties that strengthen the developing immune system of an infant. The act of breastfeeding itself encourages intimacy, makes your baby feel safe and warm, and gives you both precious time to bond.
- It is safe for your baby, and easily digested.
- It contains all the food and drink your baby needs for the first six months of life.
- Together with other foods, it is very good for the next six months and into the second year.
- It is always ready when your baby needs it.
- Your baby will be less likely to get infections, allergies and many other diseases.
- Your baby may grow and develop better.