Breastfeeding benefits babies for as long as you choose to do it, but it can be of special importance during the first few months of life. The first milk your body produces, called colostrum, provides immunological benefits that no other substance on Earth can give your baby. A wide variety of organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Family Physicians and World Health Organization, all recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
Colostrum
The milk produced in the first days after birth has a different composition than later milk. Colostrum contains high levels of immunoglobulin A, or IgA, a type of immune factor. IgA coats your newborn's intestines, preventing microbes and food particles from seeping through the immature gut wall. This can help prevent future allergies as well as protect your newborn from disease. Colostrum also has more antibodies and disease-fighting white blood cells than mature milk, so it offers protection during the early days before your baby's immune system is well-developed.
SIDS Protection
Babies who breastfeed during the early months have a lower risk of SIDS. Because the risk of SIDS drops as the baby grows, breastfeeding during the early months protects her while she is most vulnerable. According to a March 2009 study in the journal "Pediatrics," babies who are exclusively breastfed at 1 month of age have half the risk of dying of SIDS as formula-fed babies. The reduced risk of SIDS continues as long as exclusive breastfeeding continues, and even partially breastfed babies have a lower risk than their formula-fed peers.
Disease Protection
Breast milk also continues to provide immune components after your mature milk has come in. As long as you are breastfeeding, your milk is providing protection against respiratory illnesses, ear infections and digestive problems, which are potential concerns for a young baby. Breast milk also is digested more easily than formula, so you'll likely have fewer problems with colic, gas, acid reflux and spitting up. When you bring your infant in for immunizations, your breastfed baby also will be less likely to develop a fever after her vaccination than a formula-fed baby.
Early Maternal Benefits
Mothers who breastfeed during the first months after birth also accrue benefits. A breastfeeding mother is less likely to experience postpartum depression than women who formula-feed their babies during this crucial time. Breastfeeding also causes a release of the hormone oxytocin, which helps your uterus return to normal size more quickly. In addition, breastfeeding helps you get more sleep, especially in the early months when the baby needs to eat every two to three hours. Breastfeeding mothers find it easier to wake and nurse the baby than wake and prepare a bottle of formula before feeding the infant, resulting in a quicker return to sleep after the feeding. A breastfeeding mother who also co-sleeps with her infant might not even need to wake fully to feed the baby during the night.
References
- "Pediatrics"; Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; M.M. Vennemann, et al.; March 2009
- Healthy Children; Benefits of Breastfeeding For Mom; May 2011
- AskDrSears.com: How Human Milk Protects Babies From Illness
- BabyCenter; How Breastfeeding Benefits You and Your Baby; July 2010
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, 8th Edition; Dianne Wiessinger, et al.; Ballantine Books; 2010
