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Breast milk: the best food ... and more
(Breast Milk: the best food and much more)
For Waleska Porras, Regional Manager of Publications in English. La Leche League, Costa Rica

Information pertaining to the magazine NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol 14 Number 2 Year 2002

Breastfeeding is the first opportunity for a woman to ensure the health, welfare and happiness that every mother wants for their children. A baby who is put to the breast of its mother within minutes of birth as well as the valuable colostrum, which is a multiple "vaccine" natural, receives a warm current of love, a spontaneous sense of peace and security similar to that which has been accustomed for so many months in the womb. Is a sweet way, beautiful healthy and welcome to this world. During the first months, the baby needs more of the conditions that helped him grow into the uterus. One is being very close to his mother feel assured of their presence, the warmth of your skin, hear the beating of his heart, and the timbre of her voice. Being in the arms of his mother, feeding her milk, get this and much more.

BENEFITS FOR BABY
The breast placenta replaces the function of giving the baby food and shelter. Breast milk is indisputably the ideal food for your baby, and all he or she needs during the first six months of life. In addition to providing all the nutrients needed to grow, it's like a barrier that provides extra protection against all types of infections and diseases, including: ear infections, respiratory infections, diarrhea, allergies, diabetes, obesity, multiple sclerosis, viral and bacterial diseases and even some cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Breastfed girls also receive protection against breast cancer.
also have less problems with tooth decay and dental deformities. Babies who are breastfed use more than twenty muscles of the face and jaw, and exercise more than twice that bottle-fed infants. This is very important because "Prepares" the mouth, tongue and throat to form the sounds necessary for language. Specialists in language teaching argue that if a child can speak clearly, learning is easy reading. The physical benefits are babies through breast milk are only part of the many benefits of being breastfed. Currently he is paying close attention to the way that breastfeeding helps to establish a strong and loving relationship between mother and baby.

BENEFITS FOR THE MOTHER
Breastfeeding benefits not only the baby but also to the mother. When breastfeeding immediately after birth, the uterus contracts and reduces the risk of bleeding. It also helps that the placenta is expelled more quickly. The baby's sucking chest to take in the first weeks after birth helps the uterus quickly return to its natural size.
Breastfeeding is a natural way of family planning. A mother of an infant under six months exclusively breastfeeding, day and night (without giving bottles of formula or any other liquid or pacifiers) rarely get pregnant before your baby is ready ( a) to receive supplementary food, or about six months old. While there appears menstruation, or any hint of it (small spots) means that the woman is not ovulating and therefore can not become pregnant. Once menstruation appears, one must resort to other methods.
addition, breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer and osteoporosis. And another good news: it also helps to recover the shape more easily, since the body of the nursing mother uses about 400 to 500 extra calories a day. The convenience and economy of time and resources are also pros of breastfeeding. Nothing to buy, nothing sterile, nothing to warm up. Anywhere, anytime can feed discreetly your baby. Not to mention the money saved by breastfeeding. It is estimated that parents of a baby fed with artificial milk spend at least 35% of monthly income to buy formula only (this ratio is calculated by taking the minimum wage based on Costa Rican workers.) This, without taking into account the cost of bottles, teats and electricity.
Besides all these advantages, there are also emotional benefits. The body of a woman who is breastfeeding produces oxytocin, also known as "love hormone" because it awakens the mother to feel good and strong feelings of caring, love and protect her baby. This aid to better meet the needs of your son or daughter. Another hormone produced by nursing mothers is prolactin, which helps to be more calm and relaxed.
Another benefit to breastfeeding mothers is that, due to hormonal changes their bodies undergo after birth are more gradual when breastfeeding, postpartum depression, if given, is usually much lighter and easier to handle. And another important detail: a nursing mother is "forced" to rest every time you sit or lie with your baby to feed, allowing you to relax and enjoy moments of peace and quiet several times during the day.
is, therefore, that a nursing mother your baby receives many rewards for relatively little effort. Breastfed babies, for their part, children become healthy, independent, high self-esteem, self-confident, loving, intelligent and happy. And in the end, is not that what all mothers want for our sons and daughters?