Breastmilk: why it’s good for babies
Experts say that breastmilk is the natural food for your baby. Here’s why.
Breastmilk: designed by nature
- Breastmilk has developed over millions of years to be exactly suited to your baby’s needs. Although baby formula manufacturers try to copy breastmilk as closely as they can, formula won’t ever be exactly the same as breastmilk.
- Breastmilk adapts to your baby’s changing nutritional needs as your baby gets older and has fewer feeds.
Breastmilk: a complete food
- For around the first 6 months of life, your baby gets all the nutrients they need from breastmilk alone. Your baby will grow and develop well if you feed them only breastmilk and no solids, water or other liquids. This is called exclusive breastfeeding.
- Breastmilk is easy to digest. It’s easily absorbed into your baby’s system.
Breastmilk: a basis for healthy development
- Colostrum is the first breastmilk that babies get when they’re born. Colostrum boosts your baby’s immune system and supports their growth and development.
- Both colostrum and mature breastmilk contain antibodies, good bacteria and other things that reduce your baby’s risk of infections and conditions like gastroenteritis, respiratory tract infections, ear infections, type-1 diabetes and type-2 diabetes, obesity and some cancers.
- The fats in breastmilk are important for baby brain development.
- Breastfeeding is important for baby eyesight, speech, jaw and mouth development.
- Breastfed babies have a lower risk of sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and fatal sleeping accidents.
- Breastmilk gives your baby a secure food source, even when power and clean water aren’t available.
Breastfeeding encourages skin-to-skin and eye contact between you and your baby. Being physically connected can help with bonding between you and your baby. This helps your baby feel secure and can help them form strong relationships as they grow up.
Breastfeeding: why it’s good for mothers
- Breastfeeding is convenient and free. You don’t usually need special equipment to do it, and you can do it whenever and wherever you need to.
- Breastfeeding can help some women lose weight after the birth.
- Breastfeeding mothers get back to sleep more easily than formula-feeding mothers. Their sleep cycles are more in tune with their babies’ cycles.
- Women who breastfeed have lower rates of breast and ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The longer you breastfeed the better it is for your health.
Almost all mothers can breastfeed if they have the right information, support and care.
Breastfeeding: an informed decision
Breastfeeding has many benefits, but it can take time and patience to learn. It’s good to know that you can overcome most breastfeeding issues with the right support.
You and your partner can talk to your midwife or child and family health nurse, or a lactation consultant. You can also get help from an Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) counsellor by phoning the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 1800 686 268 or using the ABA LiveChat.
If you decide not to breastfeed, it’s good to know that infant formulas give your baby adequate nutrition. And if you need to supplement breastmilk with formula, it doesn’t mean that breastfeeding has to stop completely or forever.
How long to feed your baby breastmilk
It’s recommended that you breastfeed exclusively until you introduce solid foods and water at around 6 months. Around this time babies start needing some extra nutrients for growth and development.
At first, your baby needs only small amounts of solid food and water. As your baby grows, you can increase the amount according to your baby’s appetite. But breastmilk will still be your baby’s main source of nutrition until they’re at least 12 months old. And you can keep breastfeeding beyond 12 months for as long as you and your child want to.
Any breastfeeding is good for you and your baby. Breastfeeding gives your baby a great start to life no matter how long you breastfeed for.
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Key benefits of breastmilk
The World Health Organisation recommends continued breastfeeding for up to 2 years or longer. This is because breast milk is a great nourishment for your child and its nutritional composition changes according to your child’s needs. You can breastfeed your baby for as long as you both are comfortable and at the 4–6 month mark, your baby can start weaning and discovering new food textures.
How it benefits your baby:
Contains all essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients for your baby's growth and development, for the first 4—6 months
Is easier to digest so your baby is less likely to develop a tummy ache, constipation and diarrhoea
Contains antibodies that can boost your baby’s immunity and reduce risk of infections
Reduces the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot deaths), as well as obesity and diabetes in adulthood
How it benefits you:
Early suckling helps your womb contract faster and reduces blood loss after childbirth.
It delays the return of your menstrual period, where exclusive breastfeeding is a natural (although imperfect) contraceptive.
The calories burnt while breastfeeding can help you shed some of the weight gained during pregnancy.
It lowers your risk of developing breast, ovarian and/or womb cancers, osteoporosis (brittle bones) and heart disease.
Close contact between your baby and you enhances mother-child bonding.
Key nutrients in breast milk
Provides energy for growth
Fat, carbohydrates, protein, growth factors, nucleotides
Ensures good brain and eye development
Omega-3,
such as DHA, taurine
Contributes to good gut health
Oligosaccharides, taurine, enzymes
Develops a robust defense and
immune system
Immunoglobulins, selenium, beta-carotene, nucleotides, oligosaccharides
Supports a healthy cardiovascular system and blood
Iron, lactoferrin, vitamin K
Helps build strong bones
Calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D
Risks of not breastfeeding
For
mothers
Increased risk of:
For babies
Increased risk of:
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