How you feed your child is a highly personal decision, and you may run into social media influencers and other moms who try to bully you into their camp.
That’s not how we work at LUNA MED SPA & WASHINGTON OB-GYN, P.A. Our caring team of obstetrics professionals, led by Dr. Jerome Washington, aims to support all mothers-to-be by providing sound, evidence-based care and accurate information. Throughout your pregnancy, you can count on us to monitor you and your baby to ensure a safe and healthy delivery.
Part of our comprehensive prenatal services includes breastfeeding consultations for mothers who want to learn about nursing their new babies successfully. If you’re still undecided about breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding, these facts about breastfed babies might surprise you.
Although formula may become necessary in certain situations, nothing manufactured in a lab compares with the nutrients found in a mother’s breast milk. From the first day, your breasts produce exactly what your baby needs in exactly the right proportions.
Before your milk develops fully, you produce colostrum, a thick, yellowish, pre-milk full of protein and other nutritious compounds. It’s also low in sugar, unlike many formulas. Colostrum also helps your baby’s digestive tract develop.
Another thing found in breast milk but not in formula is antibodies. Colostrum is packed with immunoglobulin A (IgA) and other antibodies to give your kid’s immune system a boost right from the start. IgA forms a layer of protection in your baby’s gut and nasal passages to ward off viruses and bacteria.
Breastfeeding gives your baby a great head start, but studies show that the health benefits continue into later childhood and adulthood. Specifically, breastfed babies are less likely to experience:
Breast milk arms your child’s immune system for life.
Breastfeeding your baby for at least four months puts them in a better position to maintain a healthy weight throughout their childhood. Some researchers suggest that this is due to the higher levels of beneficial gut bacteria in breast milk that positively affects how they store fat. It may also have something to do with the hormone leptin in breast milk, which regulates appetite and fat storage.
Babies who breastfeed also self-regulate their feedings and stop when they’re satiated, unlike bottle-fed babies, who tend to keep drinking until the bottle is empty.
Evidence suggests that breast milk’s superior nutrition optimizes brain development and has long-term effects on neurological function. Other studies indicate that breastfed babies have higher IQ scores and are less likely to experience learning disorders.
Your breast milk tastes a little different every day depending on what you eat and drink, which means you expose your baby to a wide variety of flavors before they’ve had their first bite of solid food. Formula only comes in one flavor, contributing to picky-eater syndrome.
Your baby isn’t the only one who gets perks from breastfeeding; here’s what it can do for you:
Breastfeeding also saves time and money. For more tips about breastfeeding, contact us online or by phone to schedule a consultation with Dr. Washington.
