Exclusive breastfeeding is a way of feeding the baby only and exclusively with breast milk, as its name suggests. The breastmilk It is the only food, as well as the only source of hydration, that is, the newborn does not drink water or any other food based on preparations. It is the best way to feed the newborn baby, to offer him the nutrients and defenses he needs and the best way to prevent disease.
During the first months of a baby's life, breast milk is the food that meets all the nutritional needs of the little one. Even after 6 months, it continues to be an important source of energy and nutrients by complementing a more varied diet. In other words, it is a gift of life, the first natural food that the infant receives. But exclusive breastfeeding is about much more than just feeding your baby. Find out what exactly it is and all the benefits for your baby.
What is exclusive breastfeeding?
As you have already seen in the introduction to this text, exclusive breastfeeding is a form of feeding for the baby during the first 6 months of life. During that time, your baby will not need any other food, supplements, or water to obtain all the nutrients and the energy you need. Breast milk contains everything your baby needs. It even changes naturally to adapt to the new needs that the baby requires as it grows.
Exclusive breastfeeding should also be on demand, that is, there are no times or rules when feeding the baby. The creature is the one who decides when it wants to feed, for how long and how often it needs to breastfeed. In this way, the baby gets what he needs at all times and little by little he himself regulates his needs and the way he feeds.
To establish a successful breastfeeding, specialists recommend that se produces a latch on the breast by the baby during the first hour of life. However, if this is not possible due to any complications in the delivery, it does not mean that all is lost. Breastfeeding can be complicated at certain times, so it requires a lot of patience and sacrifice on the part of the mother, it is an act of love.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Breast milk contains nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fat, and it also contains them in the exact amount that the newborn requires. On the other hand, this food provides the baby with antibodies that prevent him from contracting various diseases common in childhood, such as diarrhea or pneumonia. Plus, it protects you from infectious diseases and helps you recover from other common illnesses.
On the other hand, specialists assure that breast milk promotes cognitive as well as sensory development and that it is a unique way of creating a maternal bond, from which the mother also benefits. Breastfeeding allows the mother to have a faster postpartum recovery. In addition, it delays the onset of the menstrual period, helps you lose weight faster and, most importantly, reduces the risk of contracting diseases such as:
- Various types of cancer ovaries and breast
- Osteoporosis
- Diabetes type 2
- Heart disease
- Obesity
A gift of life
Ultimately, exclusive breastfeeding consists of feeding your child only the food that your own body produces naturally for that end. It is something that your own body is prepared to create, just as it is ready to create life. Having doubts, fears or qualms about it is completely natural, especially if you are a new mother and doubts about the unknown assail you.
Perhaps you have doubts about the way to feed your baby, it is something you do not know, you hear that it is very good but also that it is very sacrificial. And the reality is that it is, your baby will ask you to feed anytime he needs it, although it may not suit you. But think that It is a very short stage, which will soon end to make way for another just as special. If your body offers you the possibility of feeding your baby naturally, do not miss the opportunity to give that food to your baby. Because breast milk is the best gift you can give your child.