Did you know that breastfeeding your baby has benefits beyond basic nutrition? In fact, breastfeeding isn’t just recommended for the physical health of your baby, it’s also recommended for you, the mother, as well. That’s right, recent studies have shown emotional, mental and physical benefits to breastfeeding for both the baby and the mother. Today, we wanted to share a few of the most compelling benefits with you.

#1: Long-term Nutritional Health Protection for Baby

Did you know that babies who are breastfed tend to have a healthier immune system? More than that, breastfeeding your baby can help reduce the risk of your child from developing chronic diseases, such as Crohn’s disease and even type 1 diabetes.

#2: Reduce Mama’s Stress Levels

Mother’s who never breastfeed, or who stop breastfeeding early have a higher risk of developing postpartum depression. When a woman breastfeeds, her body naturally releases the hormone oxytocin. This hormone has been shown to produce feelings of elation, which helps a mother feel more relaxed and at ease. So, the longer you breastfeed your child, the more oxytocin your body produces.

#3: Added Protection from Your Baby’s Natural Environment

Every child is raised in a unique environment. And every mother has a unique formula of breast milk that helps her child survive their new environment. As a mother, your physical reaction to your environment creates a breast milk formula that is specific to your body. No other two women’s milk will be exactly the same. This is because each body responds to pathogens (things like viruses and bacteria) that are specifically in your body and environment. As a result, your body produces a secretory IgA (which is only found in breast milk) that is unique to those pathogens. So, when your baby drinks your breast milk, they are thus protected from these same pathogens, giving your baby an added layer of protection from their environment.

#4: Increased Protection from Allergies

Did you know that children who are fed soy-based and dairy-based formulas tend to have more allergic reactions versus breastfed babies? Recent studies are revealing that the secretory IgA adds a layer of protection to a breastfed child’s intestinal tract, which aid in preventing allergic reactions to food.

#5: Help Reduce Risk of Cancer

There have been recent, and numerous studies, that show a link between the time a woman spends nursing and cancer. In fact, a recent number of studies have shown that Human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells (HAMLET), which is is a substance found in breast milk, has the ability to kill tumor cells and protect against cancer. That’s a pretty amazing gift to give your body and your child’s, don’t you think?

Are you still looking for more information about breastfeeding? Try looking into these book recommendations to learn more:

Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding, by Ina May Gaskin
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, by Diane Wiessinger

Can Chiropractic Help Breastfeeding?

So, now that you know some of the stellar benefits of breastfeeding for you and your baby, you might be wondering how you can best prepare your mind and body for this experience.

Did you know that chiropractic can often have positive effects for mothers and babies who are breastfeeding? Pretty cool, right?

One of our favorite things about our practice at Clear Connections is the time and attention that we have been able to dedicate to new mothers and babies. Often small adjustments are able to help relax mamas and babies alike, making the breastfeeding experience more enjoyable for both participants.

For more information, be sure that you give us a call today, or schedule your next appointment with Dr. Krystal to get an expert’s insight.