Exclusive breast-feeding
Exclusive breastfeeding means feeding the baby only breast milk without any additional food or drink, not even water, for the first six months of life. Breast milk is a complete source of nutrition for infants. Breast milk provides perfect mix of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals in the right proportions for the baby’s growth and development. Breast milk contains antibodies that protect against infections, contains fatty acids that support brain growth, reduce risk of allergies and also promotes bonding. Breastfeeding burns calories and helps with weight loss in mothers and also reduces the risk of breast cancer.
There are various nutritional benefits of exclusive breastfeeding and they have been mentioned above. Benefits for the mother includes;
1. Uterus shrinkage: Breastfeeding helps the uterus return to pre-pregnancy size.
2. Weight loss: Breastfeeding burns calories and helps with weight loss.
3. Reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer
4. It is convenient and cost-effective
5. Delayed menstruation: Breastfeeding can delay the return of menstruation.
Nature has designed breast milk to be the perfect food for infants, tailored to meet their specific needs. It’s truly a wonderful gift for the baby’s health and well-being. Exclusive breast-feeding is recommended for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding along with solid foods is recommended up to two years or beyond.
Also, there are some benefits of exclusive breast-feeding to the society at large and they are;
1. Reduced healthcare costs : Breastfeeding reduces risk of infections and diseases.
2. Increased productivity: Breastfeeding mothers may return to work sooner.
3. Environmental benefits: Breast milk production requires no packaging, transportation, or waste.
Kindly drop comment in the comment section box below and also read more on the following diseases:
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THE EFFECT OF DIETARY FIBRES ON THE RISK OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
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