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DID YOU KNOW THAT:
FOR BABY
• Mother's milk is tailor-made for your baby. In fact, it
actually matches 50% of your baby's genetic material.
� It's
composition changes with your baby's age, within a feeding,
a day, etc.
� Mother's
milk is easier to digest and almost completely assimilated by
the baby. This is why breastfed babies feed more frequently than
formula-fed babies. Breastfed babies also make liquid stools that
contain almost no solid matter (and do not smell offensive).
� To date,
we have identified over 200 components in breastmilk, and each
plays a role not only in the baby's nutrition, but also
in general development and growth as well as the development of
the immune and nervous systems.
� Breastmilk
composition is very stable, even when the mother has a poor diet
or is ill.
� Mother's
milk contributes significantly to the growth and maturation of
the baby's digestive system, which is not complete until
around 6 months of age.
� Mother’s
milk contains the fatty acids essential to the development of
the baby’s nervous system and vision. This may be one of
the reasons why breastfed babies’ IQ are 8 to 10 points higher
than that of formula-fed babies.
� Mother's
milk protects the baby from many diseases, both during breastfeeding
and throughout life, first by conferring passive immunity and
then by stimulating the baby's own immune system. These
effects increase with breastfeeding duration.
� Breastmilk
is always available, never spoiled and totally free.
� Incidence
of all diseases studied is higher in formula-fed babies than in
breastfed babies.
� Breastfed
babies cry less and have less digestive troubles (such as «
colic »)
� Breastfeeding
releases endorphins, which creates a feeling of relaxation and
well being in mother and baby, and is even an ideal pain reliever
for the baby.
FOR MOTHER
� Breastfeeding
is easy, even if it sometimes requires an initial period of learning
and adapting for mother and baby.
� No preparation,
sterilisation, etc. of bottles and formula (often while baby cries…)
� Breastfeeding
saves time and money. Artificial baby milks and supplies are costly
: 2000$ to 3000$ per year, per child in Canada, not counting medical
costs and lost wages stemming from the higher illness rates associated
with formula feeding.
� Breastfeeding
protects the mother from pre-menopausal breast, ovarian and endometrial
cancers, as well as osteoporosis. This protection increases with
breastfeeding duration.
� A woman
suffering from Gestational Diabetes has less risk of developing
type-2 Diabetes later on if she breastfeeds after that pregnancy.
� The risk
of post-partum haemorrhage is less if a woman breastfeeds.
� Breastfeeding
mothers regain their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly than non-breastfeeding
mothers.
� Exclusive
breastfeeding, under certain conditions, is a very reliable form
of birth control. It is 98-99% effective (similar to oral contraceptives),
natural, and totally free. This is the Lactation Amenorrhea Method
(LAM).
� Breastfeeding
can reduce insulin requirements in diabetic mothers.
There is much more to breastfeeding than milk!
Breastfeeding is the natural next step
to pregnancy and childbirth. After birth, there is a period of
“external gestation” which lasts 9 to 12 months. Breastfeeding
creates superior attachment between mother and child, and meets
baby's every security, affection and physical contact need.
This bond is difficult to describe, but it is nevertheless extraordinarily
strong, complex and essential to the development of this new little
human being.
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