Breastfeed For Health

Fidel is 8 months now, and I still breastfeed him, 3-4times/day.
From the newspaper I read last Sunday about breastfeeding; multiple studies have shown a reduced risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and postpartum depression in women who have breastfed their babies. The longer a woman breastfeeds, the lower her risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Breastfeeding helps restore the uterus to its original size by inducing uterine contractions and decreasing postpartum blood loss after birth. The act of breastfeeding also provides an intimate, relaxing experience for mother and baby, helping them bond. Physical contact is important to newborns and can help them feel more secure, warm, and comforted.
Breastfeeding mothers also may have increased self-confidence and feelings of closeness to their infants.

Breast milk is always warm, ready for use, and in perfect proportion to infants’ needs: no bottles to wash or trash to discard. And because of the immune protections provided to infants, breastfed babies are healthier, saving on health care expenses and increasing productivity of parents who miss less work.

It is very important to do exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continued breastfeeding for the first year of life and beyond.