How Long Should A Baby Need Mother’s Milk? Is It Good For Babies?

If you wish to give a healthy start to your babies in their lives, give them a natural gift, ‘mother’s milk.’ It is also known as liquid gold for a good reason. Right from building immunity to improving brain development, breast milk offers multiple nutrients that no formula can replicate. But new mothers will have one common doubt, that is, how long should a baby need a mother’s milk? Further, this blog will provide you with some new information about breastfeeding and when a mother should think about stopping breastfeeding their babies.

Why should I breastfeed?

There are numerous benefits of breastfeeding for both the infant and the mother, but there are some periods to breastfeed an infant to get the complete benefits. Also, is there any point breastfeeding can become harmful?

It is recommended to give the mother’s milk to the baby for at least the first six months of their lives, that is no other foods will be given to the baby besides the mother’s milk. Further, even when feeding other foods to an infant after six months, it is recommended to give the mother’s milk to the baby until the one year old. If any issues arise at this time, consider reaching out to the best child hospital in Coimbatore to sort out the issues on time.

How long should a baby be breastfed?

As we know, there are numerous benefits of feeding newborn infants with their mother’s milk. Here are the most common benefits of breastfeeding:

• First few days of life:

Experts suggest to keep infants closer the mothers and when start giving them mother’s milk as soon as the first few hours of life, it will help in enriching the connection between them. Simply, babies will get benefited through the skin-to-skin contact and it will also stimulate the mother’s milk.

Also, for the first few days babies will get thick and yellow substance known as colostrum. The first stage of mother’s milk is known as colostrum and it contains vital nutrients and antibodues which is crucial for newborns growth and development. Further, in the upcoming days, the mother’s milk will completely comes in to provide the crucial nutrients, and help in safeguarding the baby from infection.

• First month:

We can say mother’s milk is a baby’s first immunization. Mother’s milk offers protective antibodies at least until the first five years of age, and these antibodies remain as a shield to your child and protect them from:

• Infectious diarrhea
• Chest infection
• Ear infection
• Digestive issues

Expectant mothers will benefit from the feel-good hormones like oxytocin and prolactin. Both these hormones can give mothers the feeling of joy and fulfillment. Mothers who breastfeed can quickly bounce back from birth as nursing assists the uterus contract back to it normal size rapidly.

• 3 to 4 months:

When babies enter the third month of their lives, the mother’s milk will continue to support the baby’s digestive system. It remains a protection for a few babies with allergies to other foods. Further, when regularly giving mother’s milk, the expectant mothers can burn upto 400 to 500 calories per day, which helps them in maintaining an ideal postpartum weight.

• 6 months:

Even when you start feeding your baby with table foods, mother’s milk will continue to benefit the child, simply because healthcare providers recommend mothers to feed their child at least until 6 months of age. Mother’s milk offers energy and protein, as well as vitamin A, iron, and other vital nutrients. Notably, as long as babies consume their mother’s milk, they can stay strong, and it will protect babies against disease and illness.

• 9 months:

From 6 to 12 months of age, along with breast milk feeding, you should give them foods between 3 to 5 times a day. Try giving your babies mother’s milk before feeding them food, because those foods are considered supplements.

• 1 year:

Notably, babies who drank their mother’s milk for more than a year will have stronger immune systems and are less likely to need speech therapy or orthodontic work. Simply, the theory is when sucking at the breast it will help to develop muscles in and around the mouth. Further, the next benefit of breastfeeding in the long term is cost-saving.

What makes mother’s milk so special?

Mother’s milk is something apart from food, we can say that it’s a living fluid that adapts to your baby’s needs as they grow. Each drop of mother’s milk consists of sufficient amounts of proteins, fats, vitamins, and antibodies that support the baby’s growth. Further, let’s see why it’s so special:

• Immunity boost: Mother’s milk has more antibodies that safeguard your kids from infections.
• Easy digestion: When compared with other foods, mother’s milk is easily digested.
• Brain development: Mother’s milk has more DHA, which will greatly assist in vision and brain development.
• Bonding: When breastfeeding, both mother and baby will be in skin-to-skin contact, which will enhance the emotional bonding between them.
• Microbiome support: It greatly assists in establishing healthy gut bacteria, vital for long-term health.

In case, you are facing any issues with breastfeeding, immediately reach out to the best pediatrician in Coimbatore to avoid the shortcomings.

Final thoughts:

In conclusion, we can say that, ideally, mothers should breastfeed babies for at least 6 months, then up to a year or even two years or beyond with complementary foods. Notably, this is not just a food, it’s amazing for your baby’s body, brain, and bonding. Further, breastfeeding is a personal journey, whether it lasts for six weeks, six months, or two years; each drop counts and contributes to your baby’s health. Just do what’s correct for you and your baby, because there’s no one-size-fits-all rule here.