What are the benefits of breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding – the benefits for your baby

Breast milk is perfect for your baby because it meets all their nutritional needs for the first six months of their life. It contains many components that provide protection and support to the infants developing immune system.

Aside from the nutritional benefits, breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience for you and your baby for bonding and to just enjoy being with each other.

Why breastfeeding is good for your baby

• It's completely natural
• Breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for your baby and it provides immune system support
• Helps your baby to grow and develop physically and mentally
• Breast milk is easily digestible

Why breastfeeding is good for you

• Breast milk is readily available at exactly the right temperature, whenever and wherever you are
• there's no need to sterilise bottles
• Breastfeeding can help in returning you to your pre-pregnancy weight
• While providing calcium to your baby, breastfeeding can also help reduce your own loss of calcium and in doing so, help maintain the wellbeing of your bones.
• When your baby has skin-to-skin contact with you, a hormone called oxytocin is secreted from your pituitary gland which helps you and your baby bond.