Advocates of breastfeeding state that when practised optimally, breastfeeding is an enjoyable experience, pure and simple and I could not agree more. I remember enjoying the experince - I think 'bonding' with the him : it' really special. I would look forward to curling up with Daniyal the first two and half years of his life to breastfeed. It was a very special time even destressing especially after an insane day at work!
I read that breastfeeding causes the contraction of the uterus. This protects mothers from postpartum hemorrhage. Continued exclusive nursing (ie nursing exclusively on the natural milk without being bottle fed) tends to delay menstruation and ovulation. Studies have also shown that this form of breastfeeding may even be effective in preventing pregnancy in the first six months as long as exclusive nursing is practiced.
Other health benefits include decreased risk of cancer. Mothers who breastfeed for at least 6 months throughout their lifetime have a decreased risk of breast cancer, and similar reduced rates have been shown for ovarian and uterine cancers.
It is also fairly established that the benefit of breastfeeding is more rapid and sustained weight loss. Milk production uses up 200-500 calories a day. To burn off an equivalent number of calories, a bottle-feeding mother would need to swim 30 laps or ride a bicycle for over an hour. It definitely sound like reastfeeding is easier! Due to this perhaps, some breastfeeding mothers always claim that they are hungry and thus, tend to eat more. I am making my own conclusion here but perhaps this couldbe the very cause why some women find it hard to lose weight despite breastfeeding as they eat more! Perhaps it is easier to achieve the pre pregnancy weight if mothers drink more water and eat fruits instead.
The benefits of breastfeeding, in my personal humble opinion, definitely outweigh the 'inconviniences' associated with it. I would not have missed it for the world!
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