Advantages and Disadvantages of Breastfeeding

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Breastfeeding is an ideal way of feeding babies. Breast milk is said to be a healthier and cheaper option over the milk formula available in the market today. Milk coming from mothers contains almost all the essential nutrients that babies need. This also provides lots of advantages necessary for the growth and development of babies.

Aside from providing your baby with the healthiest option, breastfeeding also creates deep bonding between a mother and child. Breastfeeding is the best thing that a mother can do to nurture her child and boost their development, health and growth. Some mothers find it comfortable and effortless to breastfeed while some find it really stressful and difficult. The advantages and disadvantages of breastfeeding are discussed below:

Advantages of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding offers advantages for both mothers and their babies. The following advantages are applicable for mothers:

• Breast milk is always ready and available at correct temperature.
• No time is required or wasted for long and tiring preparation and sterilization of feeding bottles.
• Breastfeeding tend to speed up recovery in the mother’s womb and protect mothers from postnatal bleeding.
• Breastfeeding also minimizes the risk of developing ovarian cancer or breast cancer and this also lowers the risk of developing hip fractures and osteoporosis in women.

Babies also benefits from breastfeeding and the top benefits that they get the most include the following:

• Lowers the possibility of ear infections, meningitis, colon infections, urinary tract infections and diarrhea in children.
• Breast milk also protects babies from allergies that are usually experienced by babies drinking cow’s milk.
• When breastfeeding, babies receive milk that can be digested easily. This therefore saves them from experiencing stomach problems.
• Breastfeeding also plays an essential role in the development of tongue muscles and jaw.
• This also guarantees ideal hygienic conditions when breastfeeding.

Disadvantages of Breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding are given however; some women may unlikely experience the following disadvantages:

• Mothers are tied down for they have to feed their babies regularly. This means that they cannot enjoy long hours going out or doing certain activities for they have to attend to their babies’ needs.
• Mothers are obliged to wake up at night to breastfeed their babies. Breastfeeding can also yield to interrupted sleeps for both the mother and the child.
• Since breast milk can be digested easily, the frequency of feeding is shorter as compared to bottle feeding.
• Breastfeeding is an activity that requires lots of energy.
• Another disadvantage of breastfeeding is that mothers are unable to determine the exact measurement of milk that their babies consumed.
• Mothers need to be always careful on the foods they eat and the medicines they take for these may be passed on to their babies during breastfeeding.
• Breastfeeding can also be a messy, tiring and painful activity.

Breastfeeding is one of the greatest gifts a mother can impart to her precious little one. There might be some disadvantages associated with this activity however the advantages certainly outweigh all the negatives or drawbacks.