Breastfeeding makes the most critical and fundamental part of nutrition for the baby. It’s the nature design to ensure the offspring receives all the vital nutrients for the other which is why it is an essential practice among all the mammals on planet earth.

But why exactly is it is beneficial for the nurturing of the baby? What makes breastmilk a superfood for babies and does breastfeeding benefit the mother too? We often get plenty of questions at our gynaecology clinic in Mumbai, in today’s blog we have decided to answer them.

What is breastfeeding? How often should the baby be fed?

Feeding the breastmilk to the baby to ensure survival and optimal health to the baby is breastfeeding. Gynaecologists strongly recommend mandatory breastfeeding until 6 months and as soon as the food habits slowly pick up, breastfeeding is recommended to continue throughout the year.

Frequency of the breastfeeding depends upon the baby’ choice of feeding – short or long feeding habits. Usually new-born are to be fed every 2-3 hours, 2-months babies are to be fed every 3-4 hours and 6-month nannies are to be fed every 4-5 hours on average.

So now how exactly breastfeeding is beneficial to mother and baby? Coming up, right away:

Benefits of Breastfeeding to Mother and Baby:

Breastmilk is the super-food for babies: Breastmilk provides all the essential nutrients in the most bio-absorbable form in the right proportions. Also, the composition adapts to the baby’s changing needs making it a wholesome food for the little one.

Breastmilk is an immunity booster: The new baby who is just into this world will be vulnerable to health risks and guess who provides the cover – mother’s breast milk.

Through breastmilk, the antibodies of the other are directly transferred to the baby providing an immunity shot against all the diseases the mother is immune against. Case in point – Recent research also suggests that mothers vaccinated with the covid vaccine also pass their antibodies through their breast making babies naturally immune to the COVID-19 virus, according to the best female gynaecologist in Mumbai. Dr Neelima Mantri.

Breastmilk makes a child smart: Breast milk provides the right nutrients in the right quantities, guards against diseases by improving immunity and also plays a crucial role in increasing the cognitive ability of the baby. Breastfeeding helps in optimal brain development and a breastfed baby is less likely to face learning difficulties compared to their counterparts.

Helps lower the risk of diseases for mom: Not just the baby, breastfeeding also helps moms by reducing the risk of certain medical conditions and diseases. Breastfeeding moms reportedly reduce their risk of osteoporosis, postpartum depression, breast and ovarian cancers.

Breastfeeding helps in a smooth transition for mom: The act of breastfeeding also bring-in a series of anatomical changes in women which serves as a bridge for a smoother transition for mothers. Breastfeeding triggers the shrinkage of the uterus to normal size, burns more calories to helps you lose weight, can keep away from ovulation for a smoother transition to regular life.

“But hands down the most important and enriching benefit of breastfeeding is it lays pillars and fosters an unbreakable bond between the mom and baby. ”, says leading lady gynaecologist in Mumbai Dr Neelima Mantri. So breastfeeding is a natural plan of laying a strong foundation physically, mentally and emotionally helping us humans survive and leading a healthy life. If you are a mom who needs more information about breastfeeding, then you can contact female gynaecologist, Dr Neelima Mantri here: +91 7045115577