|
When your baby was born and you held him in your arms for first time, you probably thought, what a fragile little thing. Well, that’s because he is -- in more ways than one, in fact. You see, babies come out without any shield from possible infection because their immune system is still largely undeveloped. Breast milk can significantly lower that risk. That is why it is the best gift you can ever give your baby.
 Breast milk and your baby
Breast milk works like magic to keep your baby from illnesses like ear infections, upper and lower respiratory ailments, allergies, intestinal disorders, colds, viruses, staph, strep and e coli infections, diabetes, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, many childhood cancers, meningitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, salmonella, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)—to name a few. It also offers your child defense all through adulthood against Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, some lymphomas, insulin dependent diabetes, and for girls, breast and ovarian cancer. A study shows that it helps improve vaccine effectiveness. On top of that, breastfeeding appears promote the development of a baby’s teeth and jaws.
 Breast milk and your baby’s progress
Breast milk is also critical to a child’s total development. Breastfed babies were found to have higher IQ than their formula fed counterparts. In an 18-year study, it was also found that breastfed children performed greater in school. Breastfed babies also show better psychomotor and social development. Plus, breastfeeding strengthens the bond between a mom and her child. This gives the child a growing sense of security. And because babies who breastfeed are less likely to get sick, they are also less likely to absent from school. This means they won’t miss any schoolwork (and less sick leaves for moms, too!). Oh, and did I mention that breastfeeding also promotes better speech development?
The next time you breastfeed your baby, take joy in knowing that you are not only helping strengthen his immunity foundation, you are also giving him a shot at a better future.
|