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Breastfeeding...
its more than just food!
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Breastfeeding your baby is one of the first things you can do after your birth to protect him/her. That's right protect them with your milk. For months you have carried, nurtured, and protected your infant in your womb. Mothers milk continues to protect infants and young children from bacteria, pathogens, and illnesses, it is just in the last decade being realized how far reaching the benefits of your milk are to your baby. Mothers milk provides the proper ph balance for infants digestive systems to develop and specialized nutrition for their brains to grow.
Breastfeeding also benefits mom physically. The oxytocin released during nursing helps contract the uterus postpartum. This is beneficial because it stops bleeding and returns moms body to a more toned state much faster after her birth. Breastfeeding also burns about 500 calories a day. This helps the pregnancy weight to melt away. Not only does this help mom feel stronger more quickly but her tummy get flat faster than if she did not breastfeed. Breastfeeding for any amount of time also reduces your risks of breast cancer, though the most benefit is gained when nursing is continued for a year.
These things are just the tip of the iceberg for why your breast milk is the best first food for your baby.
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