Incredible Benefits of Breastfeeding for Mom & Baby

Colostrum is the thick, yellow milk your body produces right after delivery. It is small in volume but massive in benefits. Think of it as your baby’s first immunization.

This creamy substance is easy to digest and packed with concentrated nutrients ⁽¹⁾. It also acts as a natural laxative. This helps your newborn pass meconium, that black, tar-like poop, which reduces the risk of jaundice ⁽²⁾.

You might assume formula is better because it has more protein, but quality matters more than quantity.

Your baby absorbs almost 100% of the protein in breast milk. In contrast, babies only absorb about half the protein in formula. The unabsorbed waste passes through the digestive system, which is why formula-fed babies often have firm, smelly stools. Breastfed babies usually have liquid, mild-smelling poop because their bodies utilize almost everything they eat.

Constipation is rare in exclusively breastfed infants. The perfect balance of fat, protein, and water ensures things keep moving.

Interestingly, breastfed babies often poop less frequently than formula-fed babies as they get older. Some may go five or more days without a bowel movement. This is normal and usually not a sign of constipation as long as the poop is soft when it finally arrives.

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This is one of the coolest biological tricks you possess. When you are exposed to a virus, your body makes antibodies to fight it. These antibodies pass through your milk to your baby.

It creates a custom shield for your little one. Research shows this protection lowers the risk of several illnesses:

• Middle ear infections.
• Respiratory tract infections, like colds and flu.
• Gut infections causing diarrhea or vomiting.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is terrifying, but breastfeeding offers significant protection.

Studies show that breastfeeding for at least two months cuts the risk of SIDS by roughly 50% ⁽³⁾. This protective effect holds true whether you exclusively breastfeed or supplement with formula, though exclusive breastfeeding offers the highest protection.

Melatonin is the hormone that helps regulate sleep cycles. Your body produces it at night, and it passes directly into your breast milk.

Some research suggests this helps breastfed babies distinguish day from night sooner than bottle-fed babies ⁽⁴⁾. While it is not a magic cure for sleep deprivation, that evening milk essentially helps “train” your baby’s circadian rhythm.

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Formula tastes the same every time. Breast milk changes flavor based on what you ate for dinner.

If you eat a diet rich in garlic, vanilla, or spices, your baby tastes hints of those flavors. This early exposure helps them accept a wider variety of solid foods later. When you start weaning, your baby may be less surprised by new tastes because they have already sampled them through you.

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The mechanics of breastfeeding are different from bottle feeding. Your baby has to work harder to extract milk, which strengthens the jaw and tongue muscles.

This unique muscle development promotes better alignment of the teeth and jaw. Consequently, breastfed babies are less likely to deal with orthodontic issues or require speech therapy as they grow up.

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It is a scary topic, but the stats are encouraging. Babies breastfed for six months or longer have lower rates of Hodgkin’s lymphoma and acute childhood lymphocytic leukemia.

While doctors aren’t 100% sure why, the immune-boosting properties of breast milk likely play a major role in keeping these cells in check.

Breastfeeding helps program your baby’s metabolism for life. Children who were breastfed are statistically less likely to become obese.

• Self-regulation: Breastfed babies control their own intake. They stop when full, whereas bottle-fed babies are often encouraged to “finish the bottle.”
• Leptin levels: Breast milk contains leptin, a hormone that regulates appetite and fat storage.
• Gut bacteria: The microbiome of a breastfed baby may process energy differently, preventing excess weight gain.

Can breastfeeding make your baby smarter? The science points to “yes.”

Studies indicate that breastfed babies score higher on IQ tests and cognitive development scales. One long-term study even found that adults who were breastfed earned higher wages ⁽⁵⁾. The fatty acids in breast milk are critical for brain growth, which may give breastfed tots a slight mental edge.

Breastfeeding offers a double layer of protection against diabetes.

First, it reduces the risk of Type 1 diabetes. A massive study of over 150,000 children found that those who were never breastfed had double the risk of developing the disease ⁽⁶⁾.

Second, because breastfeeding lowers the risk of obesity, it naturally lowers the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in adulthood.

The benefits do not expire when childhood ends. Adults who were breastfed as infants have lower risks of developing endometrial, pancreatic, and kidney cancers.

This is likely due to the long-term programming of the immune system. A well-regulated immune system is better at detecting and destroying abnormal cells before they become tumors.

During pregnancy, your uterus grows immensely. After birth, it needs to shrink back down, a process called involution.

Breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which triggers uterine contractions. These contractions help shrink your uterus back to its pre-pregnancy size much faster than if you were not nursing ⁽⁷⁾. It also reduces postpartum bleeding.

Making milk is energy-intensive work. You burn roughly 300 to 500 calories a day just by breastfeeding ⁽⁸⁾.

While it can help some moms lose the “baby weight” faster, remember that nursing also makes you hungry! It is not a guaranteed weight-loss plan, but it certainly helps rev up your metabolism.

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Breastfeeding forces you to sit down and rest multiple times a day. But beyond the physical break, chemistry is helping you chill out.

Prolactin and oxytocin are released during nursing to help with the letdown reflex. A side effect of these hormones is a feeling of relaxation and nurturing. It is nature’s way of helping you handle the stress of new motherhood.

The relationship between breastfeeding and postpartum depression (PPD) is complex.

However, studies generally show that moms who breastfeed, especially exclusively, report lower rates of PPD. The hormonal boost and the confidence gained from successfully feeding your baby can protect your mental health. Conversely, struggle with breastfeeding can increase stress, so support is key.

Prolactin, the milk-making hormone, puts the brakes on your reproductive cycle.

Many exclusively breastfeeding moms do not get a period for months. This condition is called lactational amenorrhea. Once you start supplementing with formula or solids, prolactin levels drop, and your cycle usually restarts.

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Since you aren’t ovulating, breastfeeding acts as a form of birth control—but there is a catch.

It is roughly 98% effective if:

• Your baby is under six months old.
• You are exclusively breastfeeding (no formula or solids).
• Your period has not returned.

Warning: You ovulate before your first period arrives. I learned this the hard way and got pregnant with baby number five while nursing number four! Always use backup protection if you aren’t ready for another pregnancy.

I have done both bottle feeding and breastfeeding, and breastfeeding wins on convenience.

There is no washing bottles, no sterilizing nipples, and no measuring powder at 3 a.m. Your milk is always the perfect temperature and ready instantly. When the baby cries, you just latch and go.

Formula is expensive. When you add in the cost of bottles, sterilizers, and water, the bill adds up fast.

Breastfeeding is essentially free. You might buy accessories like nursing bras, pads, or nipple cream, but the cost is a fraction of formula feeding.

Moms who breastfeed have better glucose metabolism. For every year you breastfeed (cumulative over all your children), your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes drops substantially ⁽⁹⁾.

This is even more critical if you had gestational diabetes. Nursing helps reset your metabolism and halves the risk of that condition becoming permanent later in life.

It sounds contradictory because you lose bone density while lactating to provide calcium to your baby. However, this is temporary.

Once you stop weaning, your bones go through a rapid rebuilding phase. This process actually leaves your bones stronger than they were before, reducing your risk of osteoporosis and fractures in old age.

Breastfeeding removes estrogen from your system temporarily and changes your breast tissue. This results in a potent protection against breast cancer.

For every year you breastfeed, your relative risk of invasive breast cancer drops by 4.3% ⁽¹⁰⁾. This benefit stacks up with every child you nurse.

Ovarian cancer is aggressive and often silent. Breastfeeding provides a crucial defense.

Since nursing suppresses ovulation, it gives your ovaries a rest. This reduces cell mutation risks. Moms who breastfeed for at least six months can reduce their risk of ovarian cancer by up to 30% ⁽¹¹⁾.