This has lots of positive health implications for not just the
infant/baby but the mother as well.
Our interest in this article is to outline the usually over-looked and/or unknown benefits to a mother practicing exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).
Our interest in this article is to outline the usually over-looked and/or unknown benefits to a mother practicing exclusive breastfeeding (EBF).
EMOTIONAL IMPACT
Arguably the greatest among the benefits to a mother who
breastfeeds is the emotional receipt of the continued skin-to-skin contact with her baby.
This process actually allows for the propagation of closeness and nurturing
between mother and child.
Mothers who who bottle/formula-feeding usually miss the package-delivery this benefit.
Mothers who who bottle/formula-feeding usually miss the package-delivery this benefit.
For mothers who breastfeed, an added natural emotional benefit is
the relaxation and calmness that they gain.
The suckling of the breast by the child is said to produce what is
called special hormonal milieu/environment for the mother. Breastfeeding
mothers experience a special calmness produced by the milk-making hormone
called prolactin and as well are shown to have a less intense response to adrenaline
(Altemus, 1995).
Emotional satisfaction is also achieved as less money will be
spend on formulas and medical treatments that is a consequence of formula
feeding.
OXYTOCIN RELEASE
When the baby is put onto the breast to suckle immediately after
birth, the mother’s pituitary glands are stimulated to release the hormone
responsible for the “let-down” (release of the breast milk) called oxytocin.
Oxytocin comes with a multi-function of also triggering the occurrence of
contractions in the uterus (womb).
The oxytocin - induced contractions helps prevent postpartum hemorrhage
(bleeding) and greatly aid in the return of the womb to a healthier
non-pregnant state (uterine involution).
Further digesting the above, the presence of the hormone oxytocin causes a quicker return of the womb to its original size and greatly reduces bleeding after birth.
Further digesting the above, the presence of the hormone oxytocin causes a quicker return of the womb to its original size and greatly reduces bleeding after birth.
Though the mothers frequently receive synthetic
oxytocin intravenously at birth, mothers who don't breastfeed (in otherwords those who opt for bottle-feeding) are believed to be comparatively at a higher risk
of postpartum hemorrhage for the next few days after birth.
NATURAL BIRTH CONTROL
Becoming a mother does not shut the door on your sex-life and it is not advisable as well to jump right back into the
“pregnancy train” after a short while.
Women who practice exclusive breastfeeding get an added merit of having delayed return of their menstrual cycle and thus, naturally reap a benefit of birth (pregnancy) control.
Women who practice exclusive breastfeeding get an added merit of having delayed return of their menstrual cycle and thus, naturally reap a benefit of birth (pregnancy) control.
Breastfeeding mothers are often than not amenorrheic (Related
to the suppression of normal menstrual flow for any reason other than pregnancy)
for several months after birth. The same cannot be said for non-breastfeeding
(bottle/formula feeding) mothers who usually have their menstrual cycle return
after about six (6) to eight (8) weeks.
Lactational Amenorrhea
Method (LAM) is an evidentially proven natural contraceptive method with about
98 to 99 percent measure of successful prevention of pregnancies in the first
six (6) months.
“The natural child-spacing achieved through LAM ensures the
optimal survival of each child, and the physical recovery of the mother between
pregnancies. In contrast, the bottle-feeding mother needs to start contraception
within six weeks of the birth (Kennedy 1989)”.
IRON CONSERVATION
Compared to formula/bottle-feeding mothers, breastfeeding mothers
are less likely to suffer iron-deficiency anaemia simply
because of the delayed return of their menstrual period.
Even
though a good amount of iron is used in the production of milk for the baby,
the depletion is way-less in comparison with the consequential loss that comes
with bleeding during the menstrual cycle. The longer the mother nurses and
keeps her periods at bay, the stronger this effect of iron conservation.
This simply means mothers who exclusively breastfeed don't
just delay the return of their periods but greatly decrease the related risk of
iron-deficiency anaemia due to menstrual bleeding
Most women gain extra weight during pregnancy and usually wish to go back to their
pre-pregnancy weight.
The production of milk is an active metabolic process requiring on
the average the use of 200 to 500 Calories per day.
To use-up this many calories, a bottle/formula feeding mother
would have to swim at least 30 laps in pool or ride a bicycle uphill for an
hour daily according to Brewer, 1989.
Clearly, exclusively breastfeeding mothers have an edge on losing weight gained during pregnancy.
Studies have confirmed that non-breastfeeding mothers lose less weight and don't keep it off as well as breastfeeding mothers.
DIABETES RISK REDUCTION
As a result of the above-mentioned amount of Calories (sugar) expended for the production of milk, mothers who exclusively breastfeed and had a history of
gestational diabetes have a lower/safer blood sugar level than mothers who do
not exclusively breastfeed.
It is a well-known fact that increases in weight leads to a corresponding increase in the risk of developing diabetes.
As discussed under “optimal weight management”
above, women who exclusively breastfeed get to lose excess and unhealthy
gestational weight. This
phenomenon is particularly healthy for women who already are at increased risk
of developing diabetes. An optimal loses in weight causes a consequential
decrease in the risk of becoming diabetic in later-life.
Another merit that comes with women who breastfeed is that, for
women who had Type 1 diabetes before getting pregnant require less insulin
(injection) as the metabolic/caloric processes that comes with breastfeeding
leads to they have sugar less.
CANCER PREVENTION
They are conflicting research findings regarding this issue,
however, according to Lyde (1989) and Newcomb (1994) “it is now estimated that
breastfeeding from 6 to 24 months throughout a mother's reproductive lifetime
may reduce the risk of breast cancer by 11 to 25 percent”.
The ability of breastfeeding to reduce the risk of developing ovarian and uterine cancers later in life is due delayed ovulation (LAM) and suppressed exposure to estrogen.
The ability of breastfeeding to reduce the risk of developing ovarian and uterine cancers later in life is due delayed ovulation (LAM) and suppressed exposure to estrogen.
A local effect relating to the normal
physiologic function of the breast may also be involved. This was suggested by
a study in which mothers who traditionally breastfed on only one side had
significantly higher rates of cancer in the un-suckled breast.
STRONGER BONES
Calcium is a necessary component in breast milk production and
most health professionals mistakenly associate this with osteoporosis. For
women who breastfeed, a long-term benefit is they have stronger bones and a
reduction in the risk of osteoporosis.
The bone density of
breastfeeding women usually return to its pre-pregnancy state and sometimes
even higher-dense levels, as articulated by a study.
A results from studies also assert that women who did not breastfeed have a higher risk of hip fractures after menopause.
A results from studies also assert that women who did not breastfeed have a higher risk of hip fractures after menopause.
OTHER BENEFITS
In two studies, there appeared to be an increase in flare-ups of
rheumatoid arthritis in non-breastfeeding mothers (Jorgensen 1996; Brenna 1994).
However, in another study, overall severity and mortality of rheumatoid
arthritis was worse in women who had never breastfed (Brun, Nilson, and Kvale
1995).
There have been no other studies showing any detrimental health effects to women from breastfeeding.
Bottom line: Breastfeeding reduces risk factors for three of the most serious diseases for women-female cancers, heart disease, and osteoporosis-without any significant health risks.
There have been no other studies showing any detrimental health effects to women from breastfeeding.
Bottom line: Breastfeeding reduces risk factors for three of the most serious diseases for women-female cancers, heart disease, and osteoporosis-without any significant health risks.
Oyer (1989) vehemently writes that “breastfeeding mothers tend to
have high HDL cholesterol".
NOTES
FOR HEALTH COUNSELORS
1. The
benefits of EBF to mothers is mostly a neglected issue so do make sure to
create awareness on that; it doesn't just benefit the
baby.
2. Particularly stress on
the first three benefits stated above (Oxytocin release, Natural Birth Control
{LAM} and Emotional impact.
3. Make a case of why
children seem to be closer to their mothers than fathers been because of they
been the one’s the child spends his/her early moments of life with through
breastfeeding.
4. Get testimonies if
possible from mothers who have done exclusive breastfeeding.
CONCLUSION
When health professionals talk about the benefits of
breastfeeding, much emphasis is on the benefits to the baby/child neglecting
the mother. With the benefits mentioned-above it should be clear a mother
gains a lot from exclusively breastfeeding her baby.
FOR CONSULTATION
Call Our Nutritionist - +233277279565
This article was reviewed on Wednesday,
3rd August, 2016 By Nu. Sallah Stanley Kwesi (Nutritionist
at Nutritional
Talk)
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