What are the benefits of breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding is a unique experience for a mother and her child. An adventure full of twists and turns and benefits . Deciding to breastfeed means choosing a natural (free and zero-waste!) diet for your baby and enjoying the many physical and psychological benefits associated with it.

First and foremost, the Milk Away team wants to emphasize that breastfeeding is a choice . A decision to be made alone or as a couple, and one that should never be influenced by the medical profession or anyone else for that matter. Your body, your motherhood, your choice. Here, there is no judgment. We don't believe that you're a lesser mother because you don't breastfeed. Rather, we believe that a great mother is first and foremost a free and fulfilled woman, comfortable in her own skin, and doing the best she can. 

That being said, breast milk is truly white gold, in a way. A precious liquid with a unique composition perfectly suited to each baby's needs. And that's a good thing, since milk is their sole source of nutrition during the first months of life and remains essential thereafter, even after the introduction of solid foods.

The benefits of breastfeeding for the baby

They are numerous and largely proven scientifically . 

• Breastfeeding allows for frequent skin-to-skin contact with the mother. This practice generates a powerful feeling of well-being , comfort , and protection in the child, who absorbs the unique scent of their mother and strengthens the bond through the production of oxytocin , a natural morphine nicknamed "the love hormone ." 
• The production of this hormone during contact with the mother also promotes better sleep in the child.
• This close and regular physical contact will generate the production of another hormone, endorphin , which is capable of reducing the newborn's stress in the face of the unknown world around him that he will gradually discover.
• Breast milk contains exactly what a baby needs to grow up healthy. Many of its components are impossible to replicate artificially. It is packed with nutrients and living elements such as white blood cells , stem cells , and beneficial bacteria that promote the development of all of a baby's organs, muscles, and bones.
• Nature being so remarkably well designed, it has even been observed that breast milk adapts perfectly to the baby's needs . And not from week to week, but from feeding to feeding!
• It contains vitamins , minerals , and proteins that help the baby fight bacteria and viruses. It is also rich in antibodies , enzymes , amino acids , taurine , and other hormones —a whole essential ecosystem that promotes the child's long-term overall immunity and the harmonious development of their brain . Breastfed babies are therefore better protected against certain inflammatory diseases such as respiratory infections (colds, flu) and gastrointestinal infections (gastroenteritis, diarrhea). They are also less prone to allergies and food intolerances . Furthermore, if the baby or mother becomes ill, breastfeeding is even more beneficial because the protective components of breast milk naturally increase, thus reducing recovery time.
• Breast milk contains 1.5 times more lactose than cow's milk. In addition to its slightly sweet taste that babies love.
• Breastfeeding, whether exclusive or partial , for at least two months reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by half. (*study published in the scientific journal Pedatrics)
• The act of breastfeeding itself is beneficial to the proper development of a baby's face , teeth , and jaw . These are important factors in language acquisition .
• According to some studies, the risk of obesity is also reduced in breastfed children.
• And finally - last but not least - most studies around the world show that breastfed children achieve better results on intelligence tests due to better brain development thanks in particular to DHA, a fatty acid.

The benefits of breastfeeding for the mother

These too are numerous and significant. Breastfeeding is more than just a way to feed your baby; it is the most natural way to understand and best meet your child's needs .

• Skin-to-skin contact with your baby promotes the production of oxytocin , which stimulates milk production and provides an immediate feeling of calm and happiness . This hormone is also a very good antidepressant and therefore reduces the risk of postpartum depression. Ultimately, the mother's entire hormonal state is altered during breastfeeding, and her prolactin level, the "nurturing hormone ," skyrockets. In short, the more contact you have with your baby, the more you care for them, the more you want to do so.
• As with the baby, breastfeeding boosts the mother's health by reducing the risk of developing heart disease, type 2 diabetes, urinary tract infections, osteoporosis, and breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer . The longer breastfeeding continues, the lower the risks become.
• Breastfeeding accelerates uterine contractions , allowing it to return to its normal size more quickly after childbirth. 
• Breastfeeding requires effort from the body and consumes energy and calories— 500 extra kilocalories per day, to be precise. It significantly helps with losing the weight gained during pregnancy. Unless, of course, you're using it to compensate for all the food cravings accumulated during pregnancy... While it's always essential to enjoy food, keep in mind that a healthy and balanced diet is crucial while breastfeeding, since what mom eats, baby eats. So, avoid the diet of chocolate, chips, and candy on repeat .
• As with babies, the production of oxytocin promotes sleep during nighttime feedings. You wake up during the night, but you also fall back asleep more easily.
• Breastfeeding significantly reduces logistical worries about meals. Milk is available anytime, anywhere, thanks to specially designed clothing ( visit the Milk Away online store ). It's always in stock, at the right temperature, free, and zero waste. No need to sterilize, heat, cool, mix, etc. Frankly, we can't think of a simpler and more efficient meal for moms on the go than those offered by Milk Away moms. From an ecological and economic perspective, it simply doesn't get any better. Thanks to the widespread practice of breastfeeding in developing countries, millions of dollars are saved in healthcare, import, and distribution costs.
• Prolonged breastfeeding also delays the return of menstruation ; this phenomenon is called lactational amenorrhea . And we certainly didn't miss those periods! Regarding the contraceptive effect of breastfeeding, it exists, but we wouldn't rely solely on it. The return of menstruation is not an urban legend at all...
• As long as you are breastfeeding, you also avoid the much-feared hair loss linked to a drastic hormonal drop due to the cessation of lactation.
• It would even appear that breastfeeding boosts the intellectual faculties of mothers, allowing them to perform certain tasks more efficiently.

When we tell you that mothers are superheroes, we're simply stating the facts!

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