The benefits of breastfeeding for both mama and baby

BENEFITS FOR MAMA

1.   Breastfed babies are often healthier babies, therefore if I need to go back to work, I’m likely to have fewer days off due to my baby being unwell.   
   
   

2.   I feel proud for giving my baby my first milk – colostrum; making them less prone to infections. 
   
   

3.   It's free and convenient. I can feed anywhere, day and night.  
   
   

4.   When I’m struggling with the adjustment to motherhood, evidence shows that if I’m supported to breastfeed, I will feel better about things. It is one thing I can do that is good for my baby – even if it's only once or twice a day. 
   
   

5.   Human milk is delivered without excess packaging or processing, so I’m not contributing to landfill. 
   
   

6.   It relaxes me and often I feel sleepy after I feed my baby. 
   
   

7.   It’s always ready to go whenever I need it, the more I feed the more milk I make.  
   
   

8.   Early skin-to-skin and breastfeeding stimulates the release of hormones that support me to bond with my baby. 
   
   

9.   I can feed my baby for nutrition but I can also feed my baby for emotional contact if they are upset. 
   
   

10.   Breastfeeding helps my uterus contract after birth to decrease blood loss, and over several weeks, contracts the uterus back to its normal size.

BENEFITS FOR BABY

1.   The first milk I received (colostrum) coated my stomach and intestines to help ward off harmful diseases and made me poo lots of the black meconium poo so I didn’t get jaundiced. 
   
   

2.   While my mum is breastfeeding she is holding, touching and stroking me. This helps my brain development the way nature intended – both physically and emotionally – as we are interconnected. 
   
   

3.   Breast milk is full of things that make me strong and fight infections. Anything Mum is exposed to, her immune responses get sent to me and I am less likely to get severely sick. If I do get sick, I recover quickly. 
   
   

4.   Breastfeeding supports my long-term gut health, and decreases my chances of diabetes and obesity when I grow up. 
   
   

5.   Breastfeeding lowers my chances of getting allergies as I get exposed to lots of things from my mum. 
   
   

6.   Breast milk is warm and ready to go anytime I need it, day and night, I don’t have to wait! 
   
   

7.   Breastfeeding supports me to achieve optimal growth, development and health so I can not just survive, but thrive. 
   
   

8.   Breastfeeding is protective against certain childhood cancers, ear infections, respiratory infections, intestinal disorders and more.
   
   
   
9.   I can make more milk if I want to by just drinking more often and for longer. 
   
   

10.   I get to be close and cuddle with my mum, it makes me feel calm after I feed.