![\"Breastfeeding](\"https:\/\/medela.sg\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/K4_Breastfeeding_benefits_for_mum.jpeg\")
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The moment you have skin-to-skin contact with your newborn, your body experiences a rush of oxytocin.1<\/sup><\/a> Nicknamed \u2018the love hormone\u2019 or \u2018the cuddle chemical\u2019, it\u2019s also released every time your baby sucks on your nipple during a feed.<\/p>\n Having your newborn latch on early and often helps your uterus (womb) contract and encourages the \u2018third stage\u2019 of childbirth, expelling the placenta. It can then protect you from losing too much blood.2<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWhen a mother breastfeeds, her uterus shrinks more rapidly than that of a mother who doesn\u2019t,\u201d<\/em> explains Professor Peter Hartmann, a world-renowned expert on the science of breastfeeding, based at The University of Western Australia. \u201cWhen a woman haemorrhaged in times gone by, doctors would put the baby on the breast as quickly as they could to stimulate this contraction.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n In the days after your baby is born, the oxytocin produced in your body during breastfeeding helps prevent further blood loss, so you\u2019re less likely to suffer from iron deficiency anaemia.3<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n How breastfeeding benefits your health The longer you continue to breastfeed, the more health benefits you\u2019ll enjoy. \u201cThere are so many advantages for mums,\u201d says Professor Hartmann. \u201cBreastfeeding lowers your lifelong risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.6<\/a>,<\/sup>7<\/sup><\/a> Every extra month that you breastfeed also reduces your risk of a number of cancers, including those of the breast, ovaries and uterus.\u201d8<\/a>,9<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n Breast milk: The ultimate convenience food Breastfeeding also suppresses ovulation, so your periods stop \u2013 which for many mums is a benefit in itself. This means that exclusive breastfeeding (giving your baby no other fluids or foods) is also a pretty good method of contraception \u2013 in fact it\u2019s at least 98% effective,10<\/sup><\/a> which is a similar success rate to the pill11<\/sup><\/a> or condoms.12<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIn the not-too-distant past, probably more pregnancies were prevented by breastfeeding than any other contraceptive. And that\u2019s still the case in some developing countries,\u201d says Professor Hartmann. But remember, some women do find their periods return while exclusively breastfeeding, so take extra precautions if you don\u2019t want to get pregnant.<\/p>\n Get more sleep when you breastfeed If you breastfeed you may actually get more sleep than if you give your baby formula or practise mixed feeding.15<\/sup><\/a> One study found the difference to be 40 to 45 minutes of extra shut-eye per night.16<\/sup><\/a> Over time, that adds up to precious additional hours that could have a big impact on your wellbeing.<\/p>\n Breastfeeding helps you bond How breastfeeding can help you lose weight<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve ever wondered how many calories are burned breastfeeding, the answer is up to 500 a day18<\/sup><\/a> \u2013 about the same as an hour-long bike ride. And if you\u2019re pumping breast milk the results should be similar. These extra calories burned with breastfeeding can help you shed any weight you\u2019ve put on during pregnancy. Or alternatively, it might just let you get away with eating a few extra cakes and biscuits!<\/p>\n You may have to be a bit patient, too, as Professor Hartmann explains: \u201cMothers can lose body weight when they\u2019re breastfeeding, but mostly that takes a while. You have to breastfeed past the six-month period to really get some benefit of weight loss.\u201d<\/p>\n Why breastfeeding saves you money And because breastfed infants tend to be ill less often<\/a>,20<\/sup><\/a> you\u2019re likely to spend less time looking after a poorly baby. If you\u2019ve gone back to work, this could mean you take fewer days off due to sickness and missed childcare.21<\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n When do the health benefits of breastfeeding end?<\/strong><\/p>\n They don\u2019t! Believe it or not, you could still be reaping the rewards of breastfeeding now in your twilight years. \u201cBreastfeeding improves bone mineralisation, so you\u2019ll be less likely to suffer from osteoporosis and fractures in later life if you breastfeed,\u201d<\/em>22<\/sup><\/a> explains Professor Hartmann.<\/p>\n Breastfeeding can even boost your brainpower: \u201cPutting it simply, breastfeeding improves a mum\u2019s IQ,\u201d<\/em>23<\/sup><\/a> says Professor Hartmann. \u201cMothers undergo alterations in their brains that mean they can undertake some tasks more effectively.\u201d<\/em> So if you feel like a superwoman now you\u2019re a mum, you are!<\/p>\n Now you know how much good it\u2019s doing you, find out how beneficial breastfeeding is for your baby<\/a> too.<\/p>\n For more information, read our free ebook The Amazing Science of Mother\u2019s Milk<\/a> now.<\/p>\n <\/a>References<\/p>\n Did you know breastfeeding benefits your own health and wellbeing in lots of ways?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":4500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nOxytocin also has an antidepressant effect. One study found that mothers who had higher levels of the hormone had fewer anxiety and depression symptoms.4<\/sup><\/a> In fact, for as long as you continue to breastfeed, oxytocin will help you feel calm, reduce stress and blood pressure, and even raise your pain threshold.5<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n
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\nAlthough it can be exhausting in the early weeks, once you and your baby are practised at breastfeeding the convenience is a huge benefit. You can feed at any time with minimal hassle and effort. There\u2019s no boiling, mixing, cooling and sanitising \u2013 simply unclip your bra and get going. You don\u2019t have to remember to pack formula feeding-related paraphernalia when you\u2019re out \u2013 a real bonus when you\u2019re already laden down with nappies, spare clothes, wipes and other essentials.<\/p>\n
\nWhen your baby wakes for milk at night (as most under-ones do, whether they\u2019re breastfed or bottle-fed),13<\/sup><\/a> breastfeeding tends to be the quickest, easiest way of feeding him. You can even do it lying down! And the oxytocin and other hormones released during breastfeeding should help both of you doze off again quickly afterwards.14<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n
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\nThe oxytocin surge you experience during every breastfeed also helps strengthen your bond<\/a> with your baby. Scientists have linked raised oxytocin levels with what they describe as \u2018enhanced mothering behaviour\u2019. This means things like mums making eye contact for longer, having faster responses, and caressing their babies more17<\/sup><\/a> \u2013 it\u2019s not called the love hormone for nothing!<\/p>\n
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\nThe financial benefits of breastfeeding are worth considering too. If you\u2019re exclusively breastfeeding, you don\u2019t need to buy formula. Over a few months that can add up to a tidy sum \u2013 in the US, breastfeeding typically saves families USD 1,200 to USD 1,500 over the first year.19<\/sup><\/a> Not to mention that you won\u2019t have to panic if you can\u2019t find your preferred formula brand in the shops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n