Breast feeding is amazing and awe inspiring in so many ways. It is demonstrates the versatility, intelligence and strength of a woman's body. From the intense and indescribable bond it creates to the astonishing health benefits to both mama and baby that last many years into adult hood and old age, there is no denying why it is nicknamed "liquid gold".
Keep reading to make an informed decision if you are on the fence about breastfeeding, need a little reminder to keep going or are about to start on this miraculous journey i wanted to share 8 incredible facts that will leave your jar dropped and your faith renewed in the miracle that is breastfeeding.
- Breast milk is a living substance that contains live cells, including stem cells, which go on to become other body cell types like brain, heart, kidney, or bone tissue.
- Breast milk contains antibodies and active white blood cells that work to help your baby fight against infection. Plus, when you or your baby are sick, the amount of these cells in your breast milk increases. Your baby's saliva will go back into your body through the nipple, communicating to your body exactly what your baby needs to get better, AND THEN YOUR BODY WILL PRODUCE MORE OF THAT EXACT THING! 🤯
- Colostrum, name of your first milk, holds special proteins that line your baby’s intestinal tract protecting it from harmful bacteria right from the start.
- During breastfeeding your brain releases the hormones prolactin and oxytocin which help you to bond with the baby helping to ease normal feelings of stress and anxiety.
- Right after giving birth, your baby will instinctively crawl towards your breast to feed itself. The breast crawl is what occurs when a newborn baby is placed on their birth parent’s chest or belly immediately after birth and given time to find the parent’s nipple and begin to feed on their own. This phenomenon was first recorded in 1987 in Sweden at the Karolinska Institute.
- Mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, stroke, type-2 diabetes, and postpartum depression. Studies show that the longer a woman breastfeeds in her lifetime, the more protection she receives.
- Moms of preemies have breast milk with more protein, fat, and other minerals for bone and brain growth as well as the most protective factors to prevent illness and infection. 👀
- The smell and taste of your breast milk changes depending on the foods you eat. Exposing your little one to more flavours during breastfeeding can lead them to be less picky about food once you begin introducing solids.
