8 Benefits of breastfeeding

Not just a pretty cleavage! Women's bodies and breasts are powerful. Breast milk is the perfect amount of pre-mixed optimal nutrition for babies, readily available, and easy to digest. August is national breastfeeding month; to celebrate the power of the breast, we are highlighting eight beautiful, boobie-full benefits!

1) Everything your baby needs

Breast milk has the perfect amount of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins to give your baby exactly what they need. This ideal blend of nutrients is easy to digest, and babies can live exclusively on breast milk alone for the first six months of life.

2) Always the perfect temperature

Forget the bottle warmer or waiting for a hot bottle to cool. Breast milk is always just right and good to go!

3) Changes with your baby's needs

Breast milk is jam-packed with antibodies and bioactive cells, which help protect against infection and boost the immune system. It also adapts as your little one grows to change the composition and fat quantity to complement their needs. Pretty cool right?!

4) Comfort & Calms

Nutritional benefits aside, nursing has so much more to offer. When your little one is sick; it can comfort, hurting; it will soothe, afraid; it will calm and tired; it will bring sleep. It is a comforting, cuddly time for mommy too.

5) No need to carry bottles

A new mom will know that gone are the days when you fly out of the house with your phone, keys, card, and lipgloss. But at least with breastfeeding, the bottles are one less thing to carry!

6) Helps to lose post-baby weight

Breast milk uses fat cells stored during pregnancy, it also helps the uterus to contract down with the sucking motion, and it burns calories.

7) Pump and go 

Worried that you will never be able to pop out alone again as you are the primary life source for your little one? Want to let your partner do some night feeds? (Yes, please!) Pumping to express your milk is terrific! Breast milk can last in the fridge for up to 5 days and in the freezer for six months. Don't waste a drop! 

8) It is free!

Yup, that's right, it is free. Or like an all-inclusive holiday, pre-paid. Drink lots of water, try to eat a healthy balanced diet, and let that free milk flow!

Research shows up to -5% of women are unable to produce breast milk. If you are having trouble breastfeeding or worried about it, always consult a lactation specialist or speak with your healthcare provider. Feeding your baby with formula is still completely fine; it will provide your baby with the nutrients they need. If you have just started nursing and you are producing milk but finding it challenging, it does get better! That first week can be so hard. If you can make it through to day eight, all will be great!