9 Health Benefits For Breastfeeding Mothers.

Breastfeeding does not only benefit babies in the form of increased immunity, but also brings benefits to the mother.

9 health benefits to breast feeding mothers:

1. Breastfeeding mothers are able to come back to pre-baby tummy faster; nursing stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin that causes uterine contractions and shrinks the uterus. It also helps mothers to come back sooner to pre-pregnancy weight fast. 

2. Mothers should breastfeed their children if they want to burn calories; many mothers have lost up to 500 calories a day. However they need to make sure they do not lose weight fast as it is not safe for the baby and the mother. 

3. Breastfeeding helps prevent post-partum hemorrhaging as the uterine contractions help to slow down bleeding after delivery. The brain sends signals to the body to shut down blood supply to the vessels nourishing a growing child. 

4. Breast feeding reduces the risk of cancer of the breast, ovary and uterus; the reduction in the cancer risk is in proportion to the cumulative duration of breastfeeding. The reason why breastfeeding has cancer-fighting effects is that the level of estrogen is lowest during lactation; since this does not   stimulate the lining of the uterus and breast tissue there is less chance of these tissues becoming cancerous.

5. Breastfeeding lessens the risk of developing osteoporosis by 4 times as compared to mothers that bottle feed their child; also bottle feeding mothers are more likely to suffer hip fractures during the post-menopausal years.

6. Breastfeeding mothers enjoy not only good physical health, but also emotional health; it is found that formula feeding mothers suffer more from postpartum anxiety and depression. 

7. It is believed that breastfeeding delays the return of fertility and spacing of children. However breastfeeding alone cannot delay fertility and be depended upon as a birth control measure. It is also significant to note that a woman’s infertility also depends on her baby’s nursing pattern.

8. Two of the main benefits of breastfeeding are rest and relaxation; nursing mothers have to take the time to sit down and feed the baby. When she nurses her baby, the hormone oxytocin that is released helps to make her feel relaxed, decreases her blood pressure and calms her; some mothers go into deep sleep nursing the baby.