When it comes to what is the best nutrition for a newborn baby, experts all around the world agree on the same thing, i.e., breastfeeding. Nature has provided breastfeeding with all the essential nutrients that are required by babies for assured growth and development.
But what if a woman is unable to provide her baby with breastfeeding?
In this article, we will cover the benefits breastfeeding brings to your baby’s health and its alternatives in case breastfeeding is no longer a choice.
What are the benefits of Breastfeeding?
Doctors and healthcare experts both suggest breastmilk as the best choice for both mother and baby. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a baby should only feed on breastmilk until six months and then may accompany it with other things as a part of their diet later on until they reach one or two years of age.
Breastmilk contains all the nutrients that are necessary for the health of the baby. These nutrients in the nutrition for a newborn baby are also easily digestible, aiding the newly developed digestive system of the baby. It not only benefits the baby but also aids the mother in many aspects. Some of the major advantages of breastfeeding are as follows:
1. Breastmilk has optimal nutrition content
Breastmilk contains all the natural ingredients a newborn baby’s diet should include. For a baby, the best food a mother can offer to promote his health and well-being is breast milk. Human milk is composed of 87% water, 7% carbohydrates, 4% fats, and 1% protein. It contains a bunch of essential nutrients, such as many vital minerals, including phosphorus, calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and many essential vitamins. These all play key roles in development, as they help in developing and boosting immunity, strengthening bones, and aiding the growth of a baby’s brain and nervous system.
Although breastmilk is the best nutrition for a newborn baby, the only nutrients human milk lacks are vitamin D and vitamin K.
2. Lower risk of diseases
Those babies who are fed breast milk are more likely to develop immunity to a number of diseases, including obesity, asthma, and diabetes type 1. On the other hand, babies who remain deprived of breastfeeding are more susceptible to several infections and stomach bugs.
This protection against diseases is not limited to babies only; mothers also benefit from breastfeeding. It has been reported that breastfeeding has proven to lower the risk of heart disease in women. Breastfeeding can also prevent other common diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
3. It helps mothers lose weight
After pregnancy, it is normal for women to gain weight. In most cases, those women who breastfeed their newborn babies are likely to burn about 500-700 calories per day. If you continue breastfeeding your baby, you will experience a significant weight loss after 3 months compared to those who do not lactate.
4. Strengthens baby’s immune system
Breast milk shares antibodies from the mother that help fight against pathogens or harmful foreign invaders. It helps create a strong immune system and provides protection against certain infections.
In a newborn baby, the part of the body that provides the major immune microbial stimulation is the gut microbiome.
Breast milk is good nutrition for a newborn baby because it helps to create a healthy colonization of gut microflora and contributes to an efficient metabolic and immune response to protect the baby from several infections and inflammations.
5. Reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer
Cancer is all about abnormal cells. It can be due to mutations or damage to the DNA, leading to the proliferation of cancerous cells. Scientists believe that continued breastfeeding can help reduce the chances of breast cancer. Recent studies show that breastfeeding every 12 months can reduce the risk of breast cancer by 4.3%. This is because when you breastfeed, your cells actually shed. It can help eliminate the cells with potentially damaged DNA. In this way, breastfeeding can help lower the risk of developing breast cancer.
If we talk about ovarian cancer, breastfeeding prevents ovulation. The lower the ovulation, the lower the exposure to the hormone estrogen as well as the abnormal cells that lead to cancer.
Those women who breastfeed for about 31 months are 91% more immune to developing ovarian cancer than those feeding for up to 10 months.
6. It helps contract the uterus
Your uterus is one of the most affected organs in your body during pregnancy. During the whole period, your uterus tends to expand enough to cover your whole abdominal area. Once you have delivered the baby, your body undergoes a condition known as involution, which involves resizing of the expanded uterus. The hormone responsible for this process is known as oxytocin, the main pregnancy hormone that aids labor and reduces bleeding.
During breastfeeding, a significant amount of this hormone is released, which leads to further contraction of the uterus.
What if breastfeeding is not an option?
In some cases, a woman can’t offer breastfeeding to her newborn baby. The reason may be a personal choice or maybe a serious issue like illness. In such situations, healthcare providers have designed baby formulas to meet the needs of the baby’s growth period.
So, another good option for nutrition for a newborn baby is bottle feeding. For newborn babies, modified formulations are prepared to match the nutritional content of breast milk. These formulations come in many varieties, specified for certain ages and requirements of the baby. The market is full of fortified milk products for babies, so to make the best choice, make sure to consult with your pediatrician.
When should you start giving solid foods to your baby?
According to the doctors’ recommendations, the right time to feed your infant solid food is six months of age. When your baby reaches 6 months, he develops a greater requirement for some nutrients, such as iron and zinc, that breastfeeding cannot fulfill alone. These solid foods can include cereals, fruits, vegetables, protein-rich foods, or foods rich in other nutrients. Therefore, you should welcome your baby to the world of new tastes and textures after six months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best nutrition for a newborn baby is breast milk. It offers all the essential nutrients, containing carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. In addition, it also provides side benefits to both the baby and the mother. For babies, it helps strengthen the immune system, lowers the risk of diseases, keeps your baby healthy, and helps in the proper growth and development of the brain, and nervous system. For mothers, it helps them lose weight, contract the uterus, and prevent the risk of diseases in addition to breast and ovarian cancer.
Although baby formula milk is certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it still cannot overcome the blessings of breast milk. Its formula cannot match all the nutrients that breastmilk can offer. So, try to keep breastfeeding your newborn until six months. Once your baby reaches six months, start giving him solid foods for proper nourishment. Most importantly, make sure to consult a pediatrician, as your baby’s health is above all.
