Breast-feeding – the benefits for your child
Breast milk contains special nutrients called prebiotics, which the friendly bacteria in your child's tummy feed on. These bacteria then help to fight off bugs and potential infections, helping your child to grow up happy, healthy and ready for anything! And it even contains fatty acids that help your child’s brain develop!
Why breast-feeding is good for your child
• It's completely natural.
• It contains all the nutrients and antibodies they need.
• Research indicates that it reduces the risk of childhood diabetes and leukemia.
• Breast-feeding can help to protect your child from chest and ear infections and some allergies, like asthma and eczema.
• Research also suggests that breast-fed children go on to have healthier blood pressure as children and are less likely to become obese adults.
Why breast-feeding is good for you
• Breast milk is free and it's always at exactly the right temperature!
• When you're breast-feeding, your body releases oxytocin, also known as the love hormone, to help you and your child bond.
• Mums who breast-feed reduce their risk of developing pre-menopausal breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis.
• Breast-feeding helps to use up any extra pounds you may have gained during pregnancy, helping you get your figure back more quickly!
• Breast milk is readily available, whenever and wherever you are, there’s no need to sterilise bottles.