The evidence is conclusive: breast milk is the best nutrition you can offer your newborn. Incidences of pneumonia, colds and viruses are reduced among breastfed babies. The WHO recommends infants be exclusively breastfed until they’re at least 6 months old, with breastmilk still being the primary dietary food for infants until 12 months old, supplemented with solids.
Breast milk is nutritionally superior to formula
Human milk contains both saturated and unsaturated fats, as well as cholesterol, an important constituent of brain and nerve tissue. The fat in breast milk is more digestible than that in formula.
The energy breast milk provides is more efficiently utilised, than the energy provided by formula.
Breast milk contains a full range of vitamins and minerals in an easily digestible combination.
Special immune system protective proteins are present in breast milk.
With most mothers concerned about post delivery weight and recovery, breastfeeding burns at least 400 calories a day. The act of breastfeeding also releases oxytocin to help you get your uterus back into pre-pregnancy shape.